A BARMAID who stole thousands of pounds from a pub's till walked free from court with a judge branding her crime "wicked".

Sarah Cahart got away with taking up to £200 a night while bosses at the Wobbly Goblin in Stockton thought the business was in trouble.

Teesside Crown Court heard that the 40-year-old's colleagues were suspicious because she seemed to be getting far more tips than them.

One of the pub's co-owners was told of unusual till activity when the "no sale" function was used far more than it would ordinarily.

An investigation unearthed evidence that the same method had been used many times when Cahart was on her shifts two nights a week.

Prosecutor Emma Atkinson said she would open the till to give the customers their change, but pocket what had been handed over.

An estimated £10,000 – based on Cahart's confession that she had been stealing for almost 18 months – was taken between August 2016 and New Year's Eve.

The court heard that the pub's co-owner had loaned the barmaid money in the past for Council Tax arrears, rent, a wedding and a washing machine.

In a statement, the boss said the thefts have left it difficult to trust others, caused anxiety and sleepless nights, and led to staff morale being at its lowest for 15 years.

She said her husband took work off-shore because they thought the pub was struggling to make money, and her manager – who introduced Cahart as a trusted worker – was "devastated" and considered resigning.

Kelleigh Lodge, mitigating, said: "It was through financial difficulties at home. She has been struggling financially for a number of years.

"She has not been living a lavish lifestyle. The money she stole was to pay bills, rent arrears and to purchase food.

"She is genuinely sorry for all that has taken place. She lost the job she enjoyed as a result of her actions."

Cahart, of Piper Knowledge Road, Stockton, admitted theft, and was given a 12-month suspended prison sentence with 200 hours of unpaid community work.

She was also ordered to pay £500 compensation at £5 a week, do 20 days of rehabilitation activity, and was given a curfew from 9pm until 6am.

Judge Peter Armstrong told her: "You realise that you did a wicked thing, taking advantage of your situation, betraying good friends. Whether they will ever regain their faith in human nature, I don't know.

"The temptation to take money from the business got too much for you."