AN Ilkley woman's dreams of starting a new life in Switzerland are in tatters after she pleaded guilty to stealing money from her employer.

Shop assistant Wendy Patrick, 24, of Wyvil Road, stole £565 from Victoria Wines in Ben Rhydding, Bingley Magistrates Court heard. She pleaded guilty to theft.

Prosecuting, Patrick Gallagher, said police had found £120 at her home and also a cheque for £9.49.

He said temptation had been too much for Mrs Patrick and she had picked up the plastic containers with the cash and cheque from the safe.

Keith Blackwell, defending, said: "There is an element of kamikaze logic, the money went from the safe and her employers were bound to find out the following day.

"It was clear that they would then investigate and be drawn to the two people who would have access to the safe. She did something that was bound to be detected.

"She was in a confused and distressed state of mind and has been knocked sideways in recent months.

"Her husband and she had their house repossessed by the building society. Neither of them are working, it was a very great traumatic time.

"They were being pursued by the building society and various other creditors, you can imagine the turmoil in her mind."

He said she had obtained employment in Switzerland where she used to live and hoped to go there on June 23 to start a new life.

She was, he said, a woman with the remnant of honesty in her bones.

She had failed to turn up to a previous court hearing because she was petrified and didn't know who to turn to.

Chairman of the magistrates Brian Davis said theft from an employer was a very serious offence and he adjourned the case until June 25 for a pre-sentence report.

She was granted bail with the condition that she surrendered her passport.AN Ilkley woman's dreams of starting a new life in Switzerland are in tatters after she pleaded guilty to stealing money from her employer.

Shop assistant Wendy Patrick, 24, of Wyvil Road, stole £565 from Victoria Wines in Ben Rhydding, Bingley Magistrates Court heard. She pleaded guilty to theft.

Prosecuting, Patrick Gallagher, said police had found £120 at her home and also a cheque for £9.49.

He said temptation had been too much for Mrs Patrick and she had picked up the plastic containers with the cash and cheque from the safe.

Keith Blackwell, defending, said: "There is an element of kamikaze logic, the money went from the safe and her employers were bound to find out the following day.

"It was clear that they would then investigate and be drawn to the two people who would have access to the safe. She did something that was bound to be detected.

"She was in a confused and distressed state of mind and has been knocked sideways in recent months.

"Her husband and she had their house repossessed by the building society. Neither of them are working, it was a very great traumatic time.

"They were being pursued by the building society and various other creditors, you can imagine the turmoil in her mind."

He said she had obtained employment in Switzerland where she used to live and hoped to go there on June 23 to start a new life.

She was, he said, a woman with the remnant of honesty in her bones.

She had failed to turn up to a previous court hearing because she was petrified and didn't know who to turn to.

Chairman of the magistrates Brian Davis said theft from an employer was a very serious offence and he adjourned the case until June 25 for a pre-sentence report.

She was granted bail with the condition that she surrendered her passport.

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