Cleaner stole scratch cards from Tesco using set of tweezers

Wioletta Kulanty, Willowtree Manor, Lurgan, admitted four charges of theft in January and one offence of going equipped to steal

For each offence she was sentenced to two months in prison, suspended for two years, and she was ordered to pay £210 compensation.

The court heard that on January 27 police received a report about a female cleaner who had stolen scratch cards at Tesco, Craigavon.

When interviewed the defendant admitted stealing a number of cards.

When asked how she had removed them from the dispenser she said she used tweezers. She had 34 cards, 16 of which were not scratched, and the loss came to £210.

The case had been adjourned from a previous court so that a pre-sentence report could be obtained. A barrister for the defendant said she had no previous record and the report had been positive.

Deputy District Judge, Mr Joe Rice, said it was a serious breach of trust case.