A CHARITY worker who stole hundreds of pounds while employed by the Royal National Institute for the Deaf has been ordered to do 200 hours unpaid community work.

Nicola Hill removed £601 from the account of a vulnerable woman over a period of about six months.

But her barrister told a Preston Crown Court judge the case had unusual features which could persuade him not to send the 28-year-old to jail.

Hill, of Brownhill Road, Blackburn, had pleaded guilty to three charges of theft and asked for seven further offences to be considered.

Magistrates had committed the case to the higher court for sentence.

Richard Bennett, prosecuting, told the court that Hill had been employed by the Royal National Institute for the Deaf as a case worker, for about three years. Part of her job was to inform those living at a residential home in Blackburn how to do things like checking bank statements.

The defendant stole money from a profoundly deaf woman who lived independently in the community.

Mr Bennett said that discrepancies came to light around the end of January this year with that account.

An internal inquiry was made. Hill initially denied responsibility, but later the same day telephone the charity's deputy director to admit what she had done.

The defendant, who had no previous convictions, had since forwarded a cheque in the sum of £800 to compensate for the money taken, plus stress and inconvenience caused.

Mark Stuart, defending, said the case had a number of unusual features. A relationship had ended, resulting in her living in a rented house and also with a car to pay for. In addition, there had been the death of her grandmother.

The bailiffs ended up going to the home and taking away possessions and, as a result, she felt embarrassed and ashamed.

Judge Ronald Livesey QC, told Hill the offences were so serious that they warranted affecting her liberty. He had thought long and hard about sentence and come to the conclusion that a community punishment order could be made.