A former shop assistant who was caught on film stealing cash from her employers has avoided a prison sentence. She has been put on probation.

Bradford Crown Court heard how 27-year-old mum Caroline Clark was trapped after a security camera was installed at Aire View Stores in Silsden. Prosecutor Jayne Chaplain said the owner of the general store, after being told by his accountant of a shortfall, was advised by police to install the camera and focus it on the till.

Six days after the camera was installed, Clark was seen removing money.

Clark, of Aire View, Silsden, pleaded guilty to three charges of theft. she had no previous convictions. Her barrister Julia Nelson said her client now be-lieved she had stolen between £600-800. She said Clark was suffering from a depressive illness at the time of the offences and admitted taking some of the money to buy Christmas presents for her children.

Clark was kept in custody on Monday last week after Recorder Roger Keen QC said he needed time to consider the appropriate sentence.

Last Friday she was brought back to Bradford Crown Court and put on probation for two years. Recorder Keen said that in deciding the sentence he had taken into account the fact that Clark had spent a week in custody.

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