Till thief makes bad choice of crime scene

Canteen manager Mark Reynolds stole takings from the police headquarters in Middlesbrough, a court heard last week.

Reynolds, 33, pocketed about £2,000 over five months while working as chef/manager at the Cleveland force headquarters.

Judge Michael Taylor told him: "You fleeced the till under the noses of the police day after day."

Peter Makepeace, for the prosecution, said that Reynolds was employed by JT Catering, which had a number of service contracts in the North-east.

The owner, James Stoddart, noticed that the takings began dwindling from the police canteen after Reynolds was left in charge.

The police agreed to video his movements for a week and he was caught putting till money in his back pocket.

Defence barrister Barry Stewart told Teesside Crown Court that Reynolds, who admitted the theft, was paid £200 a week and began taking the money when his travel expenses rose to over £100 a week.

Reynolds, of Rectory Road, Gateshead, was given 200 hours' community service work and ordered to pay £500 compensation with £200 costs after the judge heard that he had found another post as a catering manager.