A BOOK-KEEPER who stole from her employer to stave off her debts, was given the chance of a fresh start by magistrates yesterday.

Anthea Sutcliffe, of Danelaw Road, Brompton, admitted five offences of obtaining money by deception at a hearing at Richmond Magistrates' Court last month.

The case was adjourned to allow the probation service to compile a report on her background and the Bench considered the findings before the hearing resumed yesterday.

Ken Fox, prosecuting, reminded magistrates 26-year-old Sutcliffe was caught when her employer noticed blank stubs in the company cheque book.

When challenged, she made a full and frank confession to stealing a total of £654 in an attempt to keep bailiffs from her door.

The court was told the offences were committed in sheer desperation rather than with a callous disregard for the consequences.

Sutcliffe was left with debts of about £8,000 when her partner was sent to prison for assaulting a child during a former relationship with another woman. Sutcliffe's predicament worsened when her own daughter contracted meningitis and spent weeks in hospital.

Too scared to admit her problems to her family and friends, Sutcliffe claimed she was left to cope on her own but was unable to make ends meet.

Magistrates ordered her to complete an 18-month rehabilitation order, which will include debt counselling and personal instruction to help her find another job.

She was excused from paying court costs but told she will have to pay back the money she stole from her former employer.