A SUPERMARKET employee has pleaded guilty to fraud after taking thousands of pounds from his employer.

Stephen John Elliott worked at two Sainsbury's stores in West Auckland and the Arniston Centre, in Durham, where he committed the crimes.

Elliott, of Kirkham Close, Chilton, appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court yesterday.

He had already pleaded guilty to nine charges of fraud by false representation for a period spanning between February and March 2017 where he swapped barcodes on products in store to buy then at a lower price and sell them on for a higher price.

He also admitted a single charge of attempting to conceal/disguise/convert/transfer or remove criminal property in the form of electrical goods between December 2015 and March 2017.

District Judge Timothy Capstick, was told Elliott accepted he had committed the fraud with up to 30 items over seven months and had made admissions when interviewed by police.

However, Elliott disputed he had received £8,895 for the items and instead argued he had only made £1,931.

DJ Capstick adjourned sentencing to October 2 at 2pm, until the prosecution could establish what the exact amount was.

Elliott,46, will next appear at Peterlee Magistrates and was given unconditional bail.