A BARISTA who stole £4,000 from the St Helier coffee shop where she worked has been sentenced to 90 hours’ community service and ordered to continue repaying the money.
Tilly Holcroft (21) began working at Bean Around the World, in Halkett Place, in August last year and from then until November, she regularly stole cash from the till, the Magistrate’s Court heard yesterday.
Legal adviser Harrison Gollop, prosecuting, said: ‘The manager had discovered notable discrepancies at the end of the day. She [Holcroft] admitted it and was informed it was £4,000.’
Rather than informing the police, the manager allowed Holcroft to repay the money in instalments. But in January, when she had repaid £1,700, the repayments stopped, leaving a balance of £2,300 outstanding.
Advocate James Bell, defending, pointed out that Holcroft was 20 at the time of the offences, had no previous convictions and co-operated with the States police.
He said: ‘Miss Holcroft does very much regret her actions. She does have an awareness of the impact on the company and she has provided a letter of apology.’
The advocate added: ‘This was out of character. She has been struggling in various ways and is getting appropriate support from her GP.’
Assistant Magistrate Peter Harris told her: ‘A significant amount of money was taken. It was foolish of you.’
He agreed to impose a community service order and told her to pay back the rest of the money in instalments of £100 per week.
The court heard that Holcroft, who admitted larceny, had secured a new job as a barista and he added: ‘You are very lucky to have been offered employment in a similar position. I hope to goodness you don’t jeopardise it.’
