A SAINSBURYS worker who helped himself to £1,200 from the tills spent it on gifts and holidays, Burnley magistrates heard.

The court was told how Jack Eastwood, 18, who started thieving when he pocketed £10 from the float and nobody noticed it had gone, could not explain why he had done it.

He came from a good home, was not hard-up and did not have any addictions.

Eastwood, who has never been in trouble before, was told he could have been facing jail, but the bench spared him. He was given 100 hours unpaid work and must pay £940 compensation and £50 costs.

The defendant, of Coleshill Avenue, Burnley, admitted theft between last November 1 and December 21.

Andrew Robinson, prosecuting, told the court the store manager was alerted to till discrepancies and Eastwood had worked on them all.

Last December 19 the manager isolated a till to make sure nobody else worked on it but the defendant and security cameras were trained on him.

The defendant told officers he spent the money on perfume, CDs, gift vouchers and a holiday.

David Leach, defending, said Eastwood had worked at Sainsburys seven to eight months and it had been his first job since leaving Burnley College.

Mr Leach said the defendant was ashamed of what he had done and his family, although supportive, was disappointed in him.

He was now unemployed.