A BARMAN responsible for cashing up at a Blackpool hotel stole the contents of the safe.

Lee Booth, 28, of St Peters Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to theft.

He was sentenced to 12 months supervision and ordered to pay £630 compensation by Blackpool magistrates.

Malcolm Isherwood, prosecuting, said: "In July last year Booth was taken on as a barman at The Colonial Hotel, South Promenade.

"After working there about a week the manageress left him the keys to the safe. She told him to put the takings in the safe after he had cashed up."

But Booth stole the takings and the cash in the safe, which totalled £630. He then left Blackpool, but was caught more than a year later in Leeds after a spot check.

Steven Townley, defending, said: "At the time of the offence Booth was drinking heavily and using cocaine."

Mr Townley added: "It was an opportunistic theft. He was intending to put the takings in the safe, but on the spur of the moment he took it all."

Booth had been on a rehabilitation course and was now off drink and drugs.