An employee who stole thousands of pounds from a Norfolk garden centre has been given an eight-week prison sentence.

Christine Carter, who worked on a till at Poppyfields Garden Centre in Snettisham, Norfolk, said when interviewed that her thefts had begun when she had taken a £10 note by mistake and then realised how easy it would be to take more money. She pleaded guilty to stealing £3,000 from the business.

Carter, a 51-year-old grandmother, had worked for Poppyfields since April 2010. When, in March 2011, the garden centre's fortunes went into reverse with a previously growing turnover suddenly slumping, the management's suspicions fell on the till worker.

CCTV footage revealed nothing but then a second camera, installed without Carter's knowledge, showed her taking money from the till and putting it in her bag. The police were called and Carter was arrested.

The court heard that Carter was £45,000 in debt and yet spent the stolen money on garden products, Sky television and eating out.

Along with her eight-week prison prison sentence, Carter was ordered to pay £3,000 back to Poppyfields Garden Centre.

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