A FORMER store worker faked refund receipts to steal cash from his employers, a court heard yesterday.

Ian Sandiford, of Stockton Road, Darlington, admitted two charges of stealing cash from the till and two of faking receipts while he was a shop assistant at Bhs, in Northgate, Darlington.

The court heard he had been employed there since 1996, but in October last year he pretended that a coat had been returned, scanned it back through the till, and stole the refund of £60.

He did the same with a £30 item and then stole the money.

At an earlier court hearing, the prosecution said that the chain store had mounted a covert operation using video cameras to catch Sandiford, who was suspected of stealing money from the till.

The security staff saw him on video, putting an item through the till marked as a refund, withdrawing the cash and putting it in his pocket.

When confronted by the shop manager, Sandiford admitted the theft and said he had financial troubles.

The court heard that, at the time of the theft, the defendant had problems, which were outlined in a pre-sentence report given to magistrates, but not read out in court.

Sandiford was given a conditional discharge and ordered to pay £60 compensation and £100 costs.

Bhs refused to comment last night.