A SALES assistant who admitted embezzling £5,000 while employed at a Galashiels store has been ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work over the next year.

Twenty one year old Justyna Kulatka of Minto Place, Hawick,was also told to pay £500 compensation.

She pleaded guilty to the offence which happened at B&M Bargains in Stirling Street between July 1 and July 22.

Kulatka was initially charged with embezzling £8,217 but admitted the lesser amount.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser told a previous court hearing: "It is an obvious breach of trust."

He explained Kulatka came up with a scheme to abuse the system by using ghost refunds.

Mr Fraser continued: "This was picked up in the course of some auditing procedures.

"There was clearly something wrong and a check of the CCTV proved she was behaving in this fashion.

"She resigned from her post and it was reported to the police."