A THIEF who worked for an opticians for 18 years stole £4,900 to pay off mounting bills - with bosses installing CCTV to catch her in the act.

Claire May had worked for Specsavers for nearly two decades prior to committing the crimes, working her way up to become a manager.

But in February this year, bosses began to notice a series of financial irregularities, with large amounts of money missing and unaccounted for.

As a result, the firm chose to install covert CCTV cameras on the tills in the store.

And May, 49, of Eastwood Boulevard, Westcliff, was almost immediately recorded stealing the money - through a series of false transactions.

The footage recorded her crimes on several occasions, and when May appeared at Basildon Crown Court for sentencing yesterday, her actions were described as “unsophisticated”.

The total amount revealed to be stolen from the company was just over £4,900.

Mitigating, Mike Warren told the court that May had faced significant increases in costs following a break-up with her long-term partner of many years.

Mr Warren cited various financial difficulties May found herself in, including £5,000 in credit card debt.

He said it was “inexplicable” why she was left with so much of the costs but that she was the main breadwinner for the couple when they were together.

He said: “She has been unemployed since the start of March, work in retail has parked.

“£20,000 is outstanding before what is owed to Specsavers.”

Mr Warren added that May was “determined” to get her life back on track and that he hopes she can “move on” from this incident.

Judge Samantha Leigh told May: “You had been there 18 years and worked your way up to a manager.

“[The thefts] was a short period of time between three to four months.

“There were costs and it was picked up relatively quickly and in my view it was pretty unsophisticated.

“You had all the bills on your shoulders and you couldn’t pay them all. Your car broke down and you couldn’t afford to pay for it.

“You offered to pay the money back even before the police proceedings had been investigated but that was declined.”

The court also heard that May had been interviewed by Specsavers and then police, making full admissions to what she had done.

She also offered to repay the money to the firm before the police investigation proceeded, but this was declined by Specsavers.

May had been working in the Specsavers in Brentwood High Street.

She received a six month prison sentence suspended for 12 months, 30 days of rehabilitation and 150 hours of unpaid work.