THE manager of an RSPCA charity shop stole more than £7,000, a court heard.

Susan McVeigh, 52, is accused of stealing the cash while she ran the Ringwood shop.

Prosecutor Nicholas Rowland said her alleged deception was uncovered when she took two weeks’ holiday from the branch and her deputy took over.

He said that after concerns were raised, a spot check by shop bosses was carried out and when McVeigh opened her locker more than £2,500 “fell out”. A further investigation revealed that over £4,500 had “disappeared into thin air”.

Mr Rowland said suspicions were raised last September when McVeigh, who had worked at the shop since August 2010, took two weeks off. Her deputy Lynda Haskell took charge and in the handover asked what she was to do with the takings. Giving evidence to Southampton Crown Court, Ms Haskell said she was told by McVeigh not to worry about banking the money but just to leave it in the safe.

After the first week it became clear the safe was too small and she contacted McVeigh to ask to bank it, but again McVeigh said no and that she would sort it out, the court heard.

However, when Ms Haskell returned to work on the Monday of the second week she found most of the money had been removed from the safe, it was claimed. A note from McVeigh said she had “moved” the money and would bank it the next day, said Ms Haskell.

She also said that the last day she was in charge, she was cashing up when McVeigh, still on leave, came into the shop.

Ms Haskell said: “She said to me: ‘You don’t need to do that, I will sort it out, so I suggest you go home.’”

McVeigh, of Bishop Court, Ringwood, denies one charge of theft totalling £7,288.32 between September 4 and November 15, 2011. The case continues.