AN AMMANFORD woman has been warned she could face prison after stealing £700 from a town bar.

Unemployed Bethan Clare Davies, of 3 Station Road, Tirydail, stole the money from Rumours, in High Street, on March 13.

Prosecutor Beth Thomas said the 26-year-old took the money, made up of takings and petty cash, and stored in a cigar tin behind the bar, after being drafted in to cover during a busy evening.

Miss Thomas added that it wasn't until later, when bar manager Lee Evans went to put the tin in a safe, that he realised it had gone missing.

"The manager checked the CCTV and saw the defendant remove the tin, hide it in a St Patrick's Day flag and then take it away," said Miss Thomas.

She added that although Mr Evans knew it was Davies who had taken the money, he gave her a chance to hand it back.

"He called staff in and ordered whoever had taken it to bring it back," said Miss Thomas. "After a week he went to the police."

Davies's defence solicitor said his client was doing all she could to pay back the money and was hoping to start another job in the coming weeks.

"What had been weighing heavy on her was a council tax bill and she feared court proceedings were imminent.

"By the time the manager had asked for the money to be returned, it had already been spent.

"She has told me she's going to get a job as soon as possible, just to start paying it back."

Ammanford magistrates adjourned the case for three weeks for a pre-sentence report to be compiled.

"We will be considering all options, including custody," they told Davies.