A WHSmith worker has admitted stealing £3,300 from his employers.
Robert Gifford was working at the firm's site in Freeman Hospital, Newcastle, when the theft took place between January and October last year.
The 50-year-old, of Greenwood Gardens, Felling, Gateshead, pleaded guilty to a charge of theft by employee when he appeared at North Tyneside Magistrates' Court.
Prosecutor Rachel Glover said the offence came to light after a senior staff member at WHSmith became aware of a discrepancy in their figures.
Further checks led them to believe Gifford was responsible for some missing cash. He was questioned and he admitted taking the money and using it to "pay off various things".
He was interviewed by police and again fully admitted he had taken £3,300 over a period of time.
Andrew O'Hanlon, defending, said: "This is a small amount of money.
"This man has worked for this company for a very large number of years. I'm not trying to belittle £3,300 but this is surprisingly a small amount of money."
Magistrates adjourned sentencing and asked for probation reports to be prepared.
Gifford was ordered to attend court on June 14 to hear his fate. He was given unconditional bail until that date.
