A woman who went on spending sprees with thousands of pounds of stolen money broke down in tears as she was jailed for a year.

Kellie Taylor, 24, stole almost £4,000 takings from her employer to buy a car and used credit cards and blank cheques stolen from a former landlady.

Worthing magistrates heard how Taylor, of Marine Parade, Worthing, stole £3,689 from the till while working for Spar in Goring Road, Worthing.

Kirsten Sharp, prosecuting, said she had been promoted to assistant manager just weeks before.

She said: "Her job was to run the store in the manager's absence. One weekend he was away and she was meant to cash up and bag the takings.

"However, it came to light she had not done this and kept the takings for herself and bought a car."

The shortfall was spotted by Spar accounts staff.

Taylor had told store managers that she had banked the money but had lost the paying-in book.

The court also heard she had stolen blank cheques and credit cards from her former landlady in Doncaster.

She went on a spending spree in June last year using them to buy a host of new household items including a bed, washing machine, fridge and settee.

Anthony Corcoran, defending, told the court stealing the takings had been "a spur of the moment thing".

He said: "There comes a time in everyone's existence when they decide enough is enough. My client feels herself that she has grown up a lot and now feels settled.

"She is in a secure relationship and she bitterly regrets what has gone on."

Magistrate Chris Holgate told Taylor: "These offences are so serious that only a custodial sentence will do."

For theft from her employer, Taylor was sentenced to six months in prison.

She was also sentenced to another six months for three counts of theft from dwellings.

Taylor also asked for 29 other matters to be taken into consideration.