A former manager at Next in Martlesham was been spared Christmas in prison after stealing nearly £4,000 of goods from the store.

Gina Foster, of Tomline Road, Ipswich, pleaded guilty at South East Suffolk Magistrates’ Court to theft by employee.

The 35-year-old admitted taking stock to the value of £3,762 between September 13 and November 6.

Foster was arrested after it was reported to police that one of the managers at the Next store may have been stealing.

Security staff had become aware of Foster taking stock.

Police were told she had worked for the company for a number of years.

However, she was identified as leaving the store wearing boots she had not paid for.

On October 23 she was said to have left the store with Next bags full of stock.

Other incidents were discovered where Foster had been seen de-tagging items before leaving the store without paying.

She was arrested and police spent more than three hours searching her home.

Hundreds of items of clothing were taken away for checking as part of the inquiry and a list of stolen property was compiled which was mainly children and women’s clothing.

Magistrates sentenced Foster to six weeks’ imprisonment, but suspended it for 12 months.

She must also pay Next £2,820 compensation and a £180 criminal courts charge.