A WOMAN has appeared in court accused of the theft of £15,000 worth of jewellery from her employer.

Leslie Marie Gibson is said to have taken about 300 items, to sell on, from Darren McCormick Jewellery, of Redworth Road in Shildon, County Durham.

No plea was taken during a short hearing at Durham Crown Court today (Wednesday September 4), but her barrister, Paul Currer, said her case is that she was lawfully in possession of all the items as she bought them at cost price from the company and sold them on legitimately.

Judge Christopher Prince asked for a full inventory of all 300 items, when they were allegedly taken, how much they were sold for and who bought them.

The hearing was adjourned, with a date agreed for the start of a trial, on Tuesday December 17.

Ms Gibson, 43, of Brougham Court in Peterlee, County Durham, was bailed to return to court for a plea hearing on Friday, November 1.