A SUPERMARKET worker dipped into the tills, stealing hundreds of pounds, after running up debts of more than £10,000.Emma Capon, of Matson Road, Ipswich, admitted stealing around £400 from Asda over the course of several months earlier this year.

A SUPERMARKET worker dipped into the tills, stealing hundreds of pounds, after running up debts of more than £10,000.

Emma Capon, of Matson Road, Ipswich, admitted stealing around £400 from Asda over the course of several months earlier this year.

The 23-year-old was punished with a six-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and was told to carry out 220 hours of unpaid work in the community.

Magistrates also ordered Capon to undertake an 18-month supervision order, which will include advice on easing her financial difficulties.

South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court heard how security officers at the store, in Goddard Road, had begun monitoring Capon after her till was found to be short of cash.

Capon previously pleaded guilty to two charges of stealing from her employers.

Neil Saunders, mitigating, said his client had got into a “dreadful mess” in relation to money.

But he claimed the thefts were opportunist, and not planned.

He said: “There's no fast car sitting outside her house. This money was just to pay the bailiffs when they came round.”