A WOMAN who stole more than £5,500 from a Tavistock post office till has been given a suspended sentence.

Hannah Lewis, of Whitchurch Road, Tavistock, stole £5,529.74 during a three-month period between October 1, 2011 and January 4 this year while she was working at Tavistock Post Office.

Plymouth Crown Court heard how Lewis had a 'position of trust' and was left to cash up on her own till each night.

The 25-year-old was caught out on January 4 when her manager completed a spot check on the till.

The court was told by prosecutor Sarah Vince that the total of the till should have been £8,471.00. However on completion of the spot check the till only contained £2,807.97.

Miss Vince told the court that on the day previous to the spot check, Lewis had told her manager she would be in early to 'sort her till'.

On being questioned by the manager if she 'had anything to say' Lewis said she would 'pay back the money, if she could keep her job' or she may be able to 'check the till again'.

The court heard that Lewis had taken the cash £20-a-time to help with living expenses and paying off a student loan.

Defence solicitor Alexis Hager said Lewis had no previous convictions and had completed a nursing qualification at university.

Sentencing Lewis, Judge Paul Darlow said the fact she had a student debt 'does not make her different from most of the population'.

He added: 'Because of your past character your sentence is suspended for two years. You must put something back into the community that you took out.'

Mr Darlow gave Lewis a 10-month suspended sentence, 250 hours of unpaid community work and ordered her to repay £2,000 within three months.