who admitted stealing more than $5,000 from her employer to pay rent and other bills.

Mary-Ann Basden, of Floral Lane, St. George's, pleaded guilty in Magistrates' Court to stealing $5,389.45 in cash and travellers' cheques from Carole Holding Ltd. - operators of a retail arts store in the Clocktower Mall - between October 25 and November 29.

She also admitted destroying two Bank of N.T. Butterfield deposit books belonging to the company.

Basden, who was the only employee at the time of the offences, was responsible for company sales and banking, Insp. Peter Duffy, prosecuting, said.

On October 25 she collected and kept more than $2,000 which was supposed to be deposited, he said.

From November 25 to 29, Basden kept company sales of more than $3,000.

"During that same period, fearful that her activities would be traced, she destroyed two deposit books,'' Insp. Duffy said, adding that the offences came to light when an audit of sales in October and November showed that the money was not deposited.

Insp. Duffy said Basden initially denied the offences, but could not give a proper account of where the money was.

Basden, he said, eventually admitted she took the money to for her rental payments and other bills.

Basden, who has no previous convictions, did not say anything yesterday.

But her lawyer Mr. Archie Warner urged Senior Magistrate the Wor. Will Francis to order a social inquiry report.

"She is a single mother of a seven-year-old and three-year-old,'' he said.

"Without saying more with regard to the circumstances. I urge that this is a fit and proper case for a social inquiry report.

Mr. Francis bailed Basden, who is to return to court on June 2, in the sum of $500.