A SIMPLE £2 bet netted Joan Dickson more than £4,000.

However, magistrates in Bury heard how she was always on a winner. For Dickson (32) took advantage of her position as a bookmakers clerk and only placed her bet after she knew the result.

In court Dickson pleaded guilty to two charges of dishonestly obtaining cash by deception from Mick Dines Betting Office and asked for three similar matters to be taken into consideration. Altogether she managed to steal nearly £7,000 before she was caught.

Prosecuting, Dr Roger Woods described how Dickson, of Berkshire Court, Bury, had worked at the bookies in Walmersley Road, Bury, for three years.

However, the company became concerned in a drop in profits at the branch and carried out their own checks. It was then that the thefts came to light.

The court was told that Dickson's biggest "win" came on the Irish Lottery when for just a £2 stake she won £4,101. However that was only possible because she made the bet after she knew the winning numbers. When questioned by police Dickson said that she had stolen to try and clear debts amounting to around £15,000.

The court heard how the debts had accumulated because of Jackson's husband who had a heroin addiction. She gave him money and then had to use credit cards to keep the family going. Also at the time of the deception she was facing social security proceedings for falsely claiming benefits. Dickson, who has an 11-year-old daughter, was put on probation for two years and ordered to pay compensation of £780.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.