A shop worker who stole more than £3,600 of designer clothes and accessories did so because she had been traumatised by her best friend’s murder, a court heard.

Becky Walpole, 21, began stealing the items from the Michael Kors store at Bluewater soon after she started working there as a sales assistant.

Her deception came to light in January after bosses carried out a bag search which was part of the store’s normal practice.

When her bag was opened, there was a dress inside it but Walpole, of Mallard Way, Lower Stoke, told her manager it was her uniform and she was taking it home to wash.

Her boss gave her the benefit of the doubt and let Walpole go home but then noticed she was wearing a leather jacket, so decided to carry out a stock check.

When the jacket could not be found, the store’s CCTV was checked and Walpole was seen wrapping the jacket up and putting it in a bag.

The matter was referred to the police and during interview, Walpole admitted she’d stolen about 25 items from the store since she started working there.

In total, it was found she had taken £3,608 worth of clothes and accessories from the store and she was charged with theft by employee.

She appeared before magistrates in Medway and pleaded guilty.

Stacey Hollands, prosecuting, told the court some of the items had been returned to the store, but many had been used or worn.

James Warren, defending, said his client had taken the items over six of seven months and had made full admissions to police and had even handed more stolen items back to officers.

The court also heard she’d suffered several bereavements and her stepfather had been diagnosed with cancer.

She was having trouble coping which is why she carried out the thefts.

He added: “She was dismissed on January 19, but has obtained further employment and lives with her mum.

“She lost her grandmother in December, her step dad had been diagnosed with cancer and her best friend, Molly, was murdered.

“These were traumatic events and she is on medication, but has now lost her good character.”

The court also heard Walpole told probation officers she carries out unpaid work for The Molly McLaren Foundation on Tuesday nights and fundraises for the cause at weekends.

The foundation was set up by friends and family of Miss McLaren after her death at Chatham Maritime in June last year.

Magistrates decided to place Walpole on a 12-month community order, which will involve her carrying out 200 hours of unpaid work.

"This is an extremely stupid offence and the consequences will come back to haunt you" - Steven Rogers

She was also ordered to pay £3,608 compensation back to the store.

Chairman of the bench, Steven Rogers, said: “This is an extremely stupid offence and the consequences will come back to haunt you at periods in your life.

"You now have a criminal record.”

Speaking after the hearing, a spokesman for the The Molly McLaren Foundation denied Walpole had been fundraising or carrying out any unpaid work.

Amy Lee said: “No one with that name is part of the foundation, no one of that name has ever attended a Mollyfest planning meeting.

"We have no record of any donation by anyone with that name.

"This individual may or may not have attended a fundraising event but we are unaware of anyone with that name ever fundraising.”

Meanwhile, beautiful sunflowers were scattered across a pub garden in Cobham, as a community struck by grief came together to celebrate what would have been Molly McLaren's 24th birthday.

Around 400 tickets were sold for the first Mollyfest which raised more than £5,000 for The Molly McLaren Foundation.

Molly, who attended Mayfield Grammar School in Gravesend and North Kent College in Dartford, was killed by her ex-boyfriend in June last year at Chatham Dockside.

The foundation has organised a number of events since it formed in September in a bid to raise money for charities who help people with eating disorders.

DJs and singers performed on the stage set up at the end of the long garden attached to The Leather Bottle, where Molly once worked, in The Street.

Specially crafted ale was on sale as well as Mollyfest cups which can still be purchased through the charity's Facebook page.

Amy Lee, organiser and trustee of the foundation, said: "Everyone had such a good time. It was emotional.

"As Doug, Molly's dad said the last time we were there altogether was for her funeral.

"It was seeing a lot of old faces we haven't seen for a year coming back together.

"Lots of people asked about next year and if we can have a few more things for the kids to do during the day.

"Nearly everything was donated so we didn't have to pay out much.

"We said if we raised £500 we'd be happy so to get 10 times that is incredible. Everyone was so generous."

To keep updated on the charity's work, visit their Facebook page.