A RECEPTIONIST at a Darwen hotel stole nearly £4,000 from her employers, using the computer system her boss had paid for her to be trained on, to hide the thefts.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Donna Marie Duckworth stole the money over a six month period and spent it on "lifestyle" improvements.

Duckworth, 22, of Lower Cross Street, Darwen, pleaded guilty to five offences of theft and asked for another 10 to be taken into consideration. She was made subject to a community rehabilitation order for 18 months, ordered to do 80 hours community service and ordered to pay £2,000 compensation.

Neil White, prosecuting, said Duckworth had explained to police how she had put the money into another account on the computer.

He said: "Mr William Pearce, the owner of the Bear Hotel, was somewhat aggrieved because he had sent her on a training course to learn how to use the computer and she used the knowledge to set up a system which concealed the theft.

"She told police she did not know why she took the money because she had no money or drug problems and she said she had lost a good job."

Andrew Church-Taylor, defending, said Duckworth had admitted her crimes immediately suspicions had been raised. "When she realised the investigation would spread to fellow employees she accepted full responsibility," said Mr Church-Taylor. He said relatively small amounts of money taken had quickly mounted up.