AN ACCRINGTON woman has appeared in court accused of almost two dozen counts of stealing from an Age Concern cafe.

Gemma Atherton, 24, of Water Street, is charged with 23 offences of theft alleged to have taken place last year when she worked as a cook and cafe assistant at the Whalley Road charity in Accrington.

It is alleged that more than £850 was taken from cashpoints around Accrington with a company debit card which was only authorised to buy supplies for the cafe, and that cash was also taken from the till.

Atherton, who pleaded not guilty when she first appeared in court in May, appeared before Hyndburn magistrates on Tuesday for the first day of her trial.

The court heard evidence from the charity’s Chief Officer, Patrick Collister, who has run the Accrington branch for more than 15 years.

He said: "The only people who had access to the cafe till were the paid members of staff, which at that time was Gemma and the cafe manager, Denise, who was off sick for the majority of October with pneumonia.

"There were, of course, volunteers about but it would be very strange for them to be anywhere near the till.

"In my opinion, after cross- referencing the till rolls with the attendance records and statements, it unfortunately looks like Gemma must have taken the money."

Mr Collister told the court that the only person who was able to withdraw the money was Atherton, as many of the cash withdrawals tallied with the trips she took to the Iceland store for the cafe’s supplies.

Atherton is charged with 12 offences of stealing from the till, one of stealing from a raffle prize fund, one of stealing two days’ takings totalling £180 and nine of using a debit card to withdraw cash.

Mr Mark Cooper, prosecuting, said Atherton’s crimes had at first gone unnoticed because she had been intercepting the bank statements.

The court heard that Age Concern’s managers were advised by the police to fit a spy camera above the till to try and catch the culprit.

Mr Collister said there was evidence on the tape that would prove Atherton took money after many instances of her acting suspiciously.

The court ran out of time to watch the film. It will be shown to the court when the trial continues on 23 December.

Atherton continues to be remanded on unconditional bail.