A pharmacy staff member who stole over £4,000 from a branch of Well where she worked has been sentenced to a community order with rehabilitation activities and ordered to repay the money in compensation.

Samantha Burton, 45, from Stoke Albany Road in Desborough, stole £4,085 from the pharmacy in Bridge Street, Northamptonshire, between May 24 and June 19 last year. She admitted theft by employee and was sentenced at Northampton Magistrates Court.

Northamptonshire Police said she was caught taking the money by CCTV footage after an audit found the money was missing. Well told Independent Community Pharmacist it had sacked Burton but did not say what her role was.

Well’s chief retail officer Andrew Caplan said: “At Well Pharmacy, we are proud to employ thousands of dedicated pharmacists and pharmacy assistants who work diligently every day to provide exceptional service to our customers.

“Regrettably, there are rare instances, such as this case, where we must take disciplinary action, including dismissal and prosecution.

We want to assure our customers and colleagues that we take such matters very seriously. Our commitment to maintaining a trustworthy and reliable environment for both our customers and employees remains steadfast.”

According to the Northamptonshire Telegraph, court records revealed Burton was ordered to repay the stolen money via deductions from benefits. That means she will pay back £20 a month over a 17-year period.