A "MENTALLY ill," woman who pocketed cash to the tune of more than £10,000 belonging to her boss was today starting a six month jail term.

Jeanine Newton, 30, whose employer, garage owner John Macadam had treated her as one of the family - and would have lent her the money had she asked - blew the proceeds on drink and cosmetics.

Burnley Crown Court heard how she was said to have low self esteem - but a judge told her many people suffered from depression yet didn't try and make it better by taking other people's money.

Judge Raymond Bennett added Newton, who had been caught out while she was still helping herself, had committed a significant breach of trust.

Newton, of Spring Street, Colne, who now hopes to become a midwife, had earlier admitted theft.

Stephen Biddle, prosecuting, said Newton took a total of £10,271 from Mr Macadam at his premises on North Valley Road, Colne, between April 1999 and April 2001.

She had started working for the company in about 1995 and received cash from customers.

In March last year, it became apparent there were discrepancies in the receipt of the money and enquiries revealed Newton was responsible. The defendant had no previous convictions.

Roger Baldwin, defending, said Newton was suffering from mentall illness at the time of the offence and still was. A psychiatrist reported she had a moderate depressive illness with anxiety symptoms.

She had been a hard worker and there had been no suggestion to her family she was capable of dishonesty of any kind, let alone on this scale.

Newton spent the money on clothes, cosmestics and gifts for other people. One of the most upsetting aspects of the case was that the obvious distress that what she had done had caused the victim - who had said he would have lent her the money if only she had asked. The defendant accepted the hurt she had caused to Mr Macadam and his family.

Mr Baldwin said that since the offence was discovered, Newton had got her life back on the rails. She would still need on-going pyschotherapy to help with her difficulties, but had a stable relationship and was hoping to complete a course which would allow her to become a midwife.

The barrister told the court that normally a custodial sentence would follow such an offence but at the time she took the money, Newton had very litle control over her behaviour.

She had not been able to confide in anyone, was living in a house of her own and had been eaten up by her own thoughts. Newton had taken to drink to try toy combat her depression and had been on a roundabout she felt it impossible to get off. She had been extremely relieved when the offence was discovered.

Mr Baldwin added Newton was far more in need of help than punishment and custody would have a completely destructive effect on her. She would in due course pay back every penny that she had taken from Mr Macadam.