A waitress entrusted with cashing up at a popular seafront tea room stole £18,000 in less than a year after running up drug debts.  

Isobelle Russell, 29, was caught pocketing hundreds of pounds in a single shift after the owners of the Whelk Coppers in Sheringham installed secret CCTV cameras. 

Norwich Crown Court was told the “sting operation” came after they noticed account discrepancies in cash deposits between April 2021 and February 2022.

Eastern Daily Press: Isobelle Russell was ordered to repay £18,000 when she was sentenced at Norwich Crown Court Isobelle Russell was ordered to repay £18,000 when she was sentenced at Norwich Crown Court (Image: Newsquest)

Holly Davies, prosecuting, said video footage on Valentine’s Day had captured her reaching into a safe and putting £350 into her pocket.

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The award-winning tea room is based in former fishermen’s cottages on the Promenade and the Norfolk Coast Path.

It boasts pannelling of Indian Teak from a Royal Navy frigate built in Kolkata in 1820, as well as wrought iron gates reputedly designed by Walt Disney, a friend of the original owner.

It was opened in 1992 by Sandra and Peter Foster.

Ms Davies said it was still owned and run by the same family, who had entrusted Russell with extra responsibilities including cashing up.

Eastern Daily Press: A statement from Whelk Coppers owner Peter Foster, who died this year, said his family felt betrayedA statement from Whelk Coppers owner Peter Foster, who died this year, said his family felt betrayed (Image: Newsquest)

In a statement made before his death earlier this year, but read out in court, Mr Foster said: “She was treated as a family member and was trusted.

“If she had needed money she could have asked and we could have advanced it as we had done before.”

The family had felt “betrayed” and feared she could go on to steal from other small local businesses, the court heard. 

Russell, of Woodhouse Close in Sheringham, had previously pleaded guilty to theft by an employee.

Eastern Daily Press: The ornate gates reputedly designed by Walt Disney at Whelk Coppers tea room overlooking the beach at Sheringham The ornate gates reputedly designed by Walt Disney at Whelk Coppers tea room overlooking the beach at Sheringham (Image: Google)

Judge David Pugh sentenced her to 12 months imprisonment suspended for two years and ordered to pay £18,000 compensation at a rate of £150 a month telling her it would take 10 years to repay in full.

He said in businesses that deal with cash “someone who has the responsibility of cashing up has a high degree of trust”.

He told Russell: “That trust and responsibility was something that you abused and betrayed.” 

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Andrew Oliver, mitigating, said the thefts had coincided with a downturn in her mental health that had led to excessive drinking and use of cocaine.

“She got into financial difficulties and took the money with the intention of repaying it but it never got to that point,” he said.

“She is extremely sorry that she let down the family that trusted her so much.”  

He said she was now a “pariah in the local community” and had lost friends but was “glad she got caught as it has allowed her to address the situation”.