A TRUSTED store assistant was secretly helping himself to thousands of CDs, DVDs and videos to sell on Internet auction site eBay, a court heard.

Thirty-four-year-old Simon Watkinson pinched an estimated £20,000 worth of goods and cash while working on the entertainment counter at the WH Smith store in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, over a period of nearly seven years.

Durham Crown Court heard that he tried to sell many of the stolen items over the Internet, after opening an account with eBay.

But after being caught on camera, the salesman faces the possibility of losing his home unless he can find another way to pay back his former employer.

Discrepancies in takings were spotted by managers at the Newgate Street store.

They installed hidden cameras to film Watkinson's activities at the till on the entertainment counter.

Watkinson, who made full admissions when the allegations were put to him, yesterday offered guilty pleas on his first appearance at Durham Crown Court.

He admitted theft of money and goods to the value of £20,000 between July 1998 and March last year.

Watkinson also admitted a charge of money laundering, by concealing, disguising, converting and transferring criminal property to a value of £1,000 by selling goods stolen from WH Smith on eBay.

Shaun Dodds, prosecuting, said the Crown would be seeking to recover money from Watkinson using proceeds of crime laws.

A statement has been served on Watkinson to which he must reply, demanding details of his savings and property, by February 13.

Andrew Holmes, for Watkinson, asked for reports to be drawn up on his client by the probation service before he is sentenced.

Mr Holmes said: "I wish to make it clear that there is no question of him not wishing to repay this money. Perhaps it can be noted there is no difficulty repaying the full amount."

Judge Peter Armstrong agreed to adjourn sentence and the proceeds of crime hearing until Monday, February 20.

Bailing Watkinson, of Brancepeth Grove, Bishop Auckland, Judge Armstrong said: "Granting you bail at this stage shouldn't be seen by you as any kind of indication that the outcome will be anything other than a custodial sentence."