A NIGHTSHIFT worker at a Rosyth petrol station who embezzled £2,000 from the business by pocketing cash from cigarette sales has been put on a ‘tag’.

Karen Rhodes, 52, of Chapelwell Place, Dunfermline, appeared for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

She previously admitted that between December 27, 2018 and March 19, 2019 at Shell Filling Station, Admiralty Road, Rosyth, while an employee there, she embezzled £2,000.

The court was told that Rhodes had been employed at the petrol station since 2016, working night shifts from 11pm to 7am.

The company became aware of “significant tobacco losses” with around £1,000 of stock going missing over 13 days.

On checking CCTV footage, it was seen that when Rhodes was selling cigarettes and some other items, she was not putting it through the till and was keeping the money.

Her employment was terminated and she was escorted off the premises.

Sentence had previously been deferred for a year to see how much of the money Rhodes paid back in that time.

The court heard there was still £784 outstanding and she is paying back £30 a month.

Defence solicitor Aime Allan said: “She was in significant financial difficulties and that is what led to the offence.

"She’s genuinely ashamed of herself and extremely embarrassed about this behaviour.”

Sheriff Charles Macnair said: “This embezzlement was a significant breach of trust. You abused the trust of your employer.”

He imposed a compensation order for £784 and a two-month restriction of liberty order.