A STORE boss said to have stolen more than £1,100 from the owners was obsessed with buying from eBay, a court was told.

Burnley magistrates heard how dad-to-be Phillip Ryan took cash from the till, told police he had awarded himself a Christmas bonus of £500, and sold alcopops from the shop to a local landlady.

He at first blamed checkout staff for the losses and said they could be making mistakes..

Ryan, 29, of Duncan Close, Burnley, who had been warned he could face jail, was sentenced to a community order with 100 hours unpaid work.

He must also pay £350 compensation and £60 costs.

The defendant, who admitted two allegations of theft, is now jobless after being sacked.

Sue Campbell, prosecuting, told the court Ryan took money over six months from the NISA store, in Colne Road, Burnley.

The owner contacted police after he discovered irregularities in the finances.

Staff investigations revealed the defendant had stolen money and alcohol.

David Leach, defending, said the store was out of pocket by about £300.

Ryan had taken wages earlier than he was entitled to do. He also took three crates of WKD, which were almost up to their sell-by dates.

The defendant, who was obsessed with eBay, really could not understand why he committed the offences.