A HAMPER agent who pocketed almost £4,000 cash which workmates had saved up to treat themselves at Christmas, is behind bars.

Hard-up mum and grandma, Julie Hooper, 38, wiped away tears in the dock as Burnley Crown Court had heard how she had become the subject of a bitter hate campaign, with nasty mail and phone calls and posters declaring her a thief being put up all over her then home town of Colne.

Hooper, who has no previous convictions, was jailed for a month, after Recorder Yvonne Coppel told her people had handed over their hard-earned money -- some of them could probably ill-afford it -- and she had breached their trust.

She went on: "Over 10 months, you systematically stole from your friends and colleagues."

The defendant, of Roundell Road, Barnoldswick, had admitted four counts of theft and been committed for sentence by Burnley magistrates.

She asked for 11 offences to be considered.

Kendal Lindley, prosecuting, said Hooper, who worked at A1 in Nelson, had been recruited by a hamper firm.

Fifteen of her colleagues joined a scheme to pay in money weekly, but unbeknown to them, the defendant was taking the cash for herself.

Last November, police were informed and Hooper was later questioned.

She made full admissions, told officers she had had financial problems, her mortgage was in arrears and she had been "robbing Peter to save Paul."

Mr Lindley said Hooper took a total of £3,753 from her workmates but they had been reimbursed by the hamper firm which had stood the loss.

Paul Hague, defending, said Hooper had been hard-working and responsible, and began the offences as borrowing.

Both she and her second husband were making payments through the Child Support Agency and had considerable money problems. Out of their income of £280, £100 a week was going on child maintenance and although the defendant was working full time at a biscuit factory, she also had a cleaning job and was cleaning for neighbours as well.

Her husband threw in his job in a fit of pique when the CSA increased his payments

Hooper then went to work in an underwear factory and was still cleaning. In order to get money for Christmas she took on the hamper agency to get commission.