A manager at the Stevenage branch of Tesco who abused her position to defraud the firm out of more than £6,000 has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Marlene Rodney, of Cooks Way in Hitchin, used bogus vouchers to fleece the supermarket out of goods worth £6,343.90 while working as a clubcard statement marketing manager between July 2015 and June 2016.

And the 31-year-old pleaded guilty to fraud when she appeared before Stevenage magistrates chaired by Nicholas Moss – who sentenced her to 18 weeks in prison, suspended for 24 months.

Mr Moss also ordered Rodney – who joined Tesco in 2008 – to carry out 200 hours of community service in the next 12 months, and to pay back the £6,343.90 in compensation.

She must also pay a £115 surcharge and £85 costs.

A Tesco spokeswoman said: “We are unable to comment on internal personnel matters. However we have a strict code of conduct that we expect all our colleagues to adhere to.”