A PREGNANT woman came 'perilously close' to a prison sentence this week after pleading guilty to stealing nearly £1,000 from her employer, writes RICHARD WILSON.

Hannah Emily Edmed, of Featherlea, Clifford, carried out an 'unsophisticated' fraud against the Co-operative store in Hay-on-Wye over several months, Hereford magistrates heard.

After shop managers became concerned about her behaviour, they carried out a test purchase on Miss Edmed's checkout.

The 30-year-old was offered £11 for a £10.80 purchase and duly returned 20p change, but secreted the £10 note into her shoe, the court was told.

Miss Edmed pleaded guilty to theft between December 12 and February 11 this year with the total amount stolen using this process reaching £933.

In mitigation, magistrates heard she had fled 'from pillar to post' across the country to hide from her ex-partner and the father of her son.

This 'dominating' relationship and a history of alleged abuse in her past had led her to become 'lonely and isolated' in Clifford. But she had now found a new boyfriend in Hay-on-Wye, was two-and-a-half months pregnant and was repentant over her 'very rash' behaviour.

Sentencing her to a two-year probation order, a tearful Miss Edmed was told by magistrates that 'theft was an extremely serious offence' and she had come 'perilously close' to prison.

She was ordered to repay the Co-operative £933 at £10 per week.