A WORKER for Comet in Leigh has denied stealing £1,000 takings from a security bag.

Bolton Crown Court was told that although there was no direct link implicating administrative assistant Nicholas Yardley in the theft there was strong circumstantial evidence.

The cash went missing from a takings bag which Yardley had checked and put in an unsealed bag ready for collection by a security company. But he then sealed the bag preventing it from being checked by another employee.

When the bag reached the bank a few days later staff found there was £1,000 in £20 notes missing.

Yardley, aged 29, of Warwick Street, Leigh, denied one charge of theft.

Prosecutor Michael Leeming said that Yardley was employed as an administrative assistant at Comet in Atherleigh Way in Leigh.

Mr Leeming said that when the bank found £1,000 cash was missing and a search revealed nothing officials contacted Comet who then checked their system.

When Yardley was asked why he had sealed the bag preventing it being checked he said he had done it to save time.

He agreed he had checked the cash and that £1,000 in £20 notes had been in the bag when it was put in the safe.

When suspicion fell on him he gave no explanation and left the store and was found by police walking home.

He told police in interview that he had left the store to have a cigarette but carried on walking trying to calm his nerves.

He could not account for the missing cash and said somebody else must have taken the money.

Mr Leeming said that there was no direct evidence that Yardley had stolen the money but there was strong circumstantial evidence that he was responsible.

(Proceeding)