A SUPERMARKET worker has today been jailed for stealing £7,000 from Safeway in Felixstowe.Susan Seymour was led from the Ipswich Crown Court dock tearstained and wringing out a tissue to begin a four month prison sentence.

A SUPERMARKET worker has today been jailed for stealing £7,000 from Safeway in Felixstowe.

Susan Seymour was led from the Ipswich Crown Court dock tearstained and wringing out a tissue to begin a four month prison sentence.

Her barrister, Guy Ladenburg, said: "The prospect of a custodial sentence terrifies her."

The court heard that the mother of three grown up children denied any involvement in the seven thefts of £1,000 the jury found her guilty of. However she admitted she could have made mistakes in cash procedures during the time she banked cash for the store between January and February last year.

Mr Recorder Guy Ayers said: "I have got to deal with you for the total of about £7,000 that the jury found in very strong evidence that you stole from your employer.

"That was a breach of trust and that makes it very serious. You were under significant personal and financial pressure and one can understand why you did it, but it would be so much easier to be sympathetic if you had faced up to your error."

The court heard that other Safeway employees had given evidence during the trial and some had "the finger of suspicion pointed at them" in a bid to shift the blame from Seymour.

The court heard that Seymour, 52, of Victoria Road, Felixstowe, had worked in a "chaotic and stressful" banking office where security had been "lax" and her training had been inadequate.

Mr Ladenburg said Seymour, who was of previous good character, had "fallen prey to unscrupulous money lenders" and faced debts of £46,000. He said she received compensation after an accident at her previous employer, the Baker's Oven, but the £3,000 payout had been much less than she had expected.

He said: "The temptation in the Safeway cash office became too great to bear."

The court heard that when Seymour's home was searched £1,000 in £20 notes was discovered. Mr Ayers awarded the money to Safeway's financiers Crossgates by way of compensation.

The court heard that Seymour had waited 20 months for her trial to be heard through no fault of her own and this fact had been taken into consideration during sentencing.