A MAN who stole a day's takings from a Worcester store has been jailed for two months by city magistrates.

The court was told Richard Williams was in Embassy Sales, Sherriff Street, talking to a sales assistant before he went upstairs into an office.

Paul Whitfield, prosecuting yesterday, told magistrates 27-year-old Williams had worked for the store for the last six years before temptation got the better of him.

"The assistant was aware of creaking from an area above her in the office," he said.

"She went upstairs and asked the defendant if he needed anything. He said he didn't and went downstairs before leaving the store.

"It was later on the owner realised cash, cheques and credit card receipts valued at around £1,200 were missing.

"The owner received a phonecall from the defendant and he apologised for taking the money and said he'd return it. But later he told her he'd given the money to a friend in Birmingham."

Williams, of Liverpool Road, Ronkswood, admitted theft at the store on Monday, July 24.

Charles Hobbs, defending, said the offence was not theft from an employer because, contrary to the prosecution's version, Williams had never worked there.

"He's known the owner for about 10 years but he's never worked there," he said. "The defendant has a grievance with the owner's husband and this may be the reason behind the theft.

"He went upstairs to use the phone and saw a bag containing the takings. The money ended up in Birmingham and was taken from him. He ended up with nothing. His conscience did get the better of him though because his grievance wasn't with the owner herself."