A STORE manager who siphoned off part of a day's takings to help him pay off his mortgage arrears was ordered to carry out community service by magistrates.

Philip Stephen Carlin, aged 27, of Thatch Leach Lane, Whitefield, admitting at Rochdale Magistrates Court stealing £440 from Poundstretcher in Rochdale.

He was made subject to a community punishment order for 100 hours and ordered to pay £69 compensation.

Carlin told the court he borrowed the money with the intention of paying it back.

Mark Humphreys, prosecuting, said the security manager of Poundstretcher carried out an internal investigation after money was found to be missing from the safe.

Carlin was found to have helped himself to £440 of the £1,755 deposited in the safe on March 18. He told police that he used it to help pay off a mortgage payment.