A WOMAN stole hundreds of pounds from a snack shop she was sacked from - claiming it was owed to her in wages, a court heard.

Katrina Bensley, of Middleton Court, Darlington, was sacked from the town centre's Hungry Jacks at the end of June last year.

David Maddison, prosecuting, said on July 3, the 20-year-old entered the shop and helped herself to £365 from the till, using her own security code, while the two assistants were not looking.

Bensley pleaded guilty to the theft when she appeared before Darlington magistrates yesterday.

Steven Andrews, mitigating, said: "When her employment ended, she calculated she was still owed about £400 in wages. She called the shop to check this was correct and was told it was.

"She then went to the shop to get confirmation from someone in management, but they said she wasn't owed the money and would not be receiving anything.

"At the time, she was trying to find accommodation and did not know where her next penny was coming from. She took the money because she panicked."

Bensley was ordered to pay compensation of £365 to Hungry Jacks, as well as a £100 fine and £34 in court costs.