The acting manager of Skipton’s Little Chef restaurant stole £2,433 from his employer to pay off mortgage arrears, a court heard yesterday.

Darren Ellison, 39, filched four days’ takings from the safe, Bradford Crown Court was told.

Ellison, of Roughaw Road, Skipton, pleaded guilty to four charges of theft in September last year.

The court heard Ellison was the only staff member who could open the safe at the restaurant, on the A59/A65 Gargrave Road roundabout.

It was his job to put the takings into sealed bags for Securicor to collect.

On October 9 last year, Little Chef headquarters was told of discrepancies between the takings and the money banked.

In all, £2,433 was missing, the court heard.

The money represented the takings on September 15, 17, 19 and 26.

Ellison was suspended from his job and the police were called.

He denied taking any money but inquiries revealed his mortgage was in arrears and repossession proceedings had started.

Ellison’s barrister Stephen Couch said he had another job and was willing to pay off the money he owed.

Recorder of Bradford, Judge Stephen Gullick, told Ellison he was guilty of a breach of trust.

He sentenced him to 200 hours unpaid work.