A woman who admitted stealing more than $2,000 from a medical clinic owned by Premier Ewart Brown received 12 months probation yesterday.

Angelita Morris, 23, of Bell Lane, Devonshire, appeared to be quiet and nervous in Magistrates' Court as Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner reviewed her case.

She pleaded guilty on May 29 to stealing a total of $2,306 and 36 patient documents. She also admitted dishonestly destroying or concealing documents required for accounting with intent to gain. Both offences happened between September 18 and November 8, 2006.

Morris was the front desk co-ordinator at Bermuda Healthcare Services in The Lane, Paget, and was responsible for the daily collection of funds.

The court previously heard managers became suspicious when they noticed money from patients was not posted in the computer system. A full audit spanning from September to November last year revealed 36 patient visits were not recorded and documents had not been filed.

Morris initially denied the offences when she was arrested on November 17, but after Police found patient documents during a raid of her home, she admitted to the wrongdoings.

Mr. Warner told Morris he was going to give her a break but she needed to stop stealing from her workplaces. She has two similar previous offences.

"If you continue this way, stealing from the people you are employed with, you'll run out of jobs and end up in prison. You cannot go around stealing from your employers," he said.

Steven Payne, holding for the defendant's lawyer Richard Horseman, told Mr. Warner the defendant was making efforts to pay back the money she stole. Morris is currently employed in Dietary Aide in the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

She received 12 months probation with conditions that she pay back the amount within the year and comply with any rehabilitation programme Court Services puts her in.

Dr. Brown declined to comment.