A SHOP assistant's bid to be the "perfect mother" to her children led her into crime and put her in the dock at York Magistrates Court.

Barbara Chappell, 34, repeatedly took money from the till at Evans' store in Monks Cross Shopping Centre by falsely claiming they were refund payments, said Steven Ovenden, prosecuting.

Over a five-week period she did it on average once a day until she had taken £1,000 from her employers.

After her scam was uncovered she tried to conceal it by getting her partner to go to the store and falsely claim that he was due £100 for a refund for an item bought at the chain's Meadowhall store.

Chappell, of Woodford Place, Acomb, York, pleaded guilty to four charges of theft, one of attempted theft and asked for 16 similar offences to be taken into consideration.

She was jailed for two months, suspended for six months on condition that she completes six months' supervision, including a course on budgeting and other matters.

Vicky Latham, Chappell's solicitor, said: "She wanted very much to be a good mother, a perfect mother."

But Chappell had got into financial difficulties, run up debts she couldn't pay and didn't want to seek help.

So to ensure her children continued to get the lifestyle they were used to including gifts and little luxuries, the single mother turned to theft.

"It was an offence out of desperation," said Ms Latham. "She knew the wolf would come to her door and she was relieved when it did."

Mr Ovenden said the scam was discovered when the manageress cashed up on October 19 and found the till had £100 too much. But there was a refund slip that couldn't be accounted for and that led to Chappell.

She denied dishonesty and the next day, a man purporting to represent the customer due the refund rang up and later came into the shop to claim the money.

But he was recognised as Chappell's partner and the refund was false. She later admitted her crimes.

Chappell took £1,000 between September 8 and October 24 in 21 fraudulent transactions.