A FORMER loan company agent who helped herself to £1,000 of her boss's cash has escaped jail.

Ann Doyle, 25, wept as a judge said her case fell short of a prison sentence.

Judge Raymond Bennett said Doyle had owned up to what she had done and did not blame anybody else.

The judge told Doyle, who has no previous convictions, he did not think right-minded members of the public would feel she ought to go to jail.

Doyle, of Dearden Nook, Hall Carr, Rawtenstall, admitted three counts of theft and three of false accounting at Burnley Crown Court. She was given 12 months probation.

Sara Dodd, prosecuting, said Doyle began working for Provident Personal Credit in June 1996.

She was issued with a Natwest Bank visa card in October, with a limit of £1,000 a week, or £5,000 a month.

In April 1997, the manager covering Doyle's area in Rawtenstall, received notification from head office that a number of withdrawals had been made from cash points which were not accounted for on Doyle's summaries or withdrawal slips. When Doyle was later interviewed, she admitted she had taken about £1,000 in "£50 batches".

Alexandra Simpson, defending, said: "It was always her intention to pay it back, but it is often the case that you never quite get round to putting it back."

She said Doyle was now on sickness benefit but would take any job going to pay the money back.

She had suffered from depression and alopecia. However, she was no longer taking valium and could now see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Mrs Simpson said: "This is a lady who has everything to look forward to. Ever since these offences came to light she has suffered greatly.

"If ever anybody was desperately in need of help from a probation order, it is this young lady. A custodial sentence would serve no purpose."

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