BAR manager Pamela Jones has been given an eight-month suspended prison sentence after stealing nearly £2,000 from her bosses.

Jones, 41, of Ashe Crescent, Chippenham, was working at the Borough Arms in the town when she stole the money from co-licensees Wayne Bentley and Neisha Williams to pay rent arrears to Westlea Housing Association.

The court heard Jones, whose son is waiting for a specialist operation following a brain haemorrhage, had been under immense emotional stress and the experience of going to court had made her think about killing herself.

At the time of the offences, landlord Mr Bentley was away on business and he had asked Miss Williams to check the weekly cash sheets.

On July 17 she spoke to Jones, who told her there was going to be a shortfall between what had been taken and what she had banked that week.

She said she had heard someone trying to get into the pub by forcing the back door the previous night, so she had taken the money and put it into her own personal bank account for safe keeping.

Cedric Allen, prosecuting, said Jones had agreed to withdraw the money and pay it into the business account.

She then said the bank would not let her withdraw such a large amount of money without 48 hours notice and came up with a string excuses.

She said she kept forgetting to bring the paying-in book to the pub for Miss Williams to see.

Jones finally turned up with the books, which showed no payments had been made.

She admitted stealing £1,960 and said she had spent the money.

She pleaded guilty at a Chippenham court earlier this month.

She was ordered to pay back £500 of the money, because of her financial circumstances, at a rate of £10 per week.

She received a four-month suspended sentence for each offence to run concurrently.