Ascot Park woman stole $1000

A Cotton On employee stole more than $1000 from the Porirua store by falsifying till receipts each time a customer paid with cash.

Elisha Nicholls Mataiti, 19, appeared in Porirua District Court last week and pleaded guilty to stealing money on 41 occasions.

The Ascot Park resident took $1410 without her manager’s permission between December 3 and 27 last year.

Her lawyer, Andrew More, said Nicholls Mataiti had written Cotton On an apology letter and regretted what she had done.

‘‘She was mixed up with quite a bad group of friends,’’ he said.

More said his client had since cut ties with her friends.

Judge Jan Kelly convicted Nicholls Mataiti on the charge of theft of more than $ 1000 and sentenced her to 80 hours community work.

She was also ordered to repay Cotton On by August 22.