Rose Fortescue was found guilty of taking the money from Mencap's Thetford branch that she ran, in what prosecutors said was a “serious breach of trust”.

The 43-year-old - who has a history of similar offences going back almost 20 years - appeared at Norwich Magistrates' Court where the judge sentenced her to six months in prison, but suspended it for 18 months after hearing her income was needed to maintain the family home.

District Judge Paul Booty expressed astonishment that she was now employed at a different charity shop with a probation report........

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