A THEFT charge against a woman accused of stealing £15,000 worth of jewellery from her employer has been dropped.

Leslie Marie Gibson previously denied a single count of theft from Darren McCormick Jewellery, of Shildon, County Durham.

She was alleged to have taken about 300 items of jewellery from the company, between September 2007 and July 2012.

Ms Gibson, 43, of Brougham Court, Peterlee, County Durham, was to have returned to Durham Crown Court for trial last month, but the hearing was adjourned.

The case was re-listed for a brief “mention” at the start of today’s (Wednesday January 8) court session.

Christine Egerton, prosecuting, told the court: “Since the last hearing the Crown has carefully reviewed the case and a decision has been taken not to proceed with the case, so ‘no evidence’ will be offered.”

Recording a formal ‘not guilty’ verdict, Judge Christopher Prince told Ms Gibson: “That’s the end of the case and you may go.”