Till operator stole thousands from Lincolnshire Co-operative stores

A till operator who stole cash from her employers has been ordered to repay more than £6,000.

Deborah Khatooni pocketed the money while working for the Lincolnshire Co-operative Society at stores in Skellingthorpe village and in Skellingthorpe Road, Lincoln.

Recorder Nigel Daly, sitting at Lincoln Crown Court, ruled that Khatooni benefited from crime by £6,102 and ordered that she repay that money which will be returned to the Co-op as compensation.

Khatooni was given six months to pay or face a four-month jail sentence in default.

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Khatooni, 48, of Coronation Crescent, Coleby, admitted a charge of fraud between June 2011 and February 2012 when she appeared at the Crown Court in May last year. She was ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and placed under the supervision of a probation officer for 12 months.

The earlier hearing was told by Andrew Scott, prosecuting, that Khatooni took the cash while serving customers over an eight-month period by using a method known as the "lay away system."

Andrew Scott, prosecuting, said the system used by Khatooni left the till still appearing to be balanced correctly.

Khatooni made admissions to security staff when suspicions were aroused.

When questioned by police Khatooni, who had no previous convictions, told officers she carried out the theft after suffering a "dreadful year."

During interview, Khatooni explained she had been suffering from marriage difficulties, her eldest son owed money and her youngest son had been badly beaten up.

She admitted to taking between £40 and £60 every time during around 80 shifts.

Richard Marshall, mitigating, said Khatooni had split from her husband and was struggling to pay her mortgage.