A Post Office supervisor who stole nearly £18,000 from her workplace has been given a suspended sentence for theft.

Christine Abrahams, 63, of Barlee Close in Clavering, was working at the Post Office in June 2021 when she took £17,992 before being caught.

Abrahams admitted to taking the money and pleaded guilty to theft at the earliest opportunity on June 15 at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court.

At Chelmsford Crown Court on Tuesday, August 29, Abrahams was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for 18 months.

She was also ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work.

In closing remarks, the judge said that Abrahams abused her "position of responsibility and trust", and sought to conceal the shortfall her theft created.

Economic Crime Investigator Claire Elliot said: "Abrahams knew what she was doing was wrong. She tried to cover her tracks and hide her actions from her employer.

"Now she has been sentenced and a failure to complete her unpaid work will see her sentence become a custodial one.

"Financial crimes like this are never victimless and are complex to prove, so I am glad to see the hard work of the Economic Crime Team and myself rewarded with this result."