Rose EarleROSE Earle is struggling to forgive a former friend and employee who betrayed her to steal more than £1,000 in cash and cigarettes from the newsagents where she worked for 17 years.

"At the end of the day, I have to forgive her. In the end I will, but it is a long hard road," she said of Glenice Reynolds who was ordered to do 100 hours community service by Swindon Crown Court yesterday.

Reynolds' theft was discovered only when closed-circuit television cameras were installed after Mrs Earle's husband Myles realised the Newport Street business was haemorrhaging money.

Rob Welling, for the prosecution, said Reynolds, 59, was watched for six days and on each day she stole cash and cigarettes at various times throughout her shift.

When questioned she denied the thefts until she was presented with the video evidence a pattern repeated during interviews with police, he said.

The average estimate was that she stole £250-worth of stock or cash each day, to a total of about £1,200, although there was an application from Mr Earle for compensation of £4,830.92.

Robin Shellard, defending, said the first thing Reynolds wanted to do was to apologise to the Earles.

"They had a very good relationship," he said, "a very honest relationship for nearly 17 years. During that time she was an honest, valuable and reliable employee."

The theft was something she found hard to explain. "What went on over that short period of time was an aberration."

She accepted it was a breach of trust and realised she had to pay the money back.

He said the defendant, who lived in a mobile home and acted as sole carer for her sick husband, stood before the court a "ruined lady".

Reynolds, of The Bungalows, Bradenstoke, near Lyneham, admitted six charges of theft.

The judge, Recorder Timothy Lamb QC, said it was an opportunistic crime and a breach of the trust built up over 17 years. "I had prison very much in mind when I started considering this case," he told her.

But he said it appeared the court proceedings had had a salutary effect on her and he was prepared to make an exception to the rule that breach of trust offences required a prison sentence.

He made no order for compensation because she planned to pay the money back.

Confiscation of any proceeds of the thefts was adjourned for three months to allow police to investigate Reynolds' finances.

Before she left the dock she made an emotional apology directly to Mrs Earle who was sitting in the public gallery.

But after the hearing, Mrs Earle, 53, said: "I needed to be there and I wanted to look her in the face. Saying 'I'm sorry,' quite honestly is just a joke.

"The only reason she was upset was because she has been caught."

Mrs Earle paid tribute to locals, customers and staff who had lent their support.

"People have been phoning me up and stopping me in the street and saying how sorry they are to hear about what has happened to us. That is the community caring."

tclarke@newswilts.co.uk