A KESGRAVE bar worker convicted of stealing hundreds of pounds from people saving for Christmas has avoided a jail term.Angela Brown appeared at Ipswich Crown Court yesterday for sentencing after she was found guilty of stealing £500 from a Christmas club.

A KESGRAVE bar worker convicted of stealing hundreds of pounds from people saving for Christmas has avoided a jail term.

Angela Brown appeared at Ipswich Crown Court yesterday for sentencing after she was found guilty of stealing £500 from a Christmas club.

Brown, 25, of Roy Close, Kesgrave had been employed as an assistant manager of the Kesgrave Sports and Social Club when a moneybag containing £2,430 in Christmas Club money was given to her to put in a safe.

Brown had denied stealing the £500 and putting the remaining money in a second bag in February but a jury was told the second moneybag had 13 fingerprints on it which matched those of Brown.

The court was told that the missing money was discovered when the club's vice-president went to bank £2,430 paid in by members at a weekly collection session and was told by a cashier that £500 was missing.

Sentencing, Recorder Gerald Pounder told her: “This is a serious breach of trust. You were in a position of authority and you had responsibility that came with the job. You were a full-time employee and not just a part-time member of staff who came along.

“What strikes me here, both in the evidence and throughout the trial is that this was a well planned theft and it came about through insider knowledge. Other employees were suspected of this crime. Suspicion was cast on a number of people, some of whom had worked there for many years.

“On the other hand, you are someone of good character.”

Mr Pounder gave Brown a four month prison sentence, suspended for a year, ordered her to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work in the community and ordered that she must pay the £500 back to Kesgrave Sports and Social Club.

Telling Brown that if she re-offends within the next year she could be re-sentenced for the theft, he said: “I am giving you a chance today, so don't let me down. You have been very lucky today, do not come back.”

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