A SCHOOL kitchen boss stole over £10,000 to feed her husband's alcohol addiction.

Rita Dunlop, 45, from Kirkhill Crescent in Colmonell, pilfered a total of £10,841 while working as the catering supervisor at Girvan Academy.

Ayr Sheriff Court heard how an anomaly was noticed within the school accounts by South Ayrshire Council's finance team.

The Fiscal, Cath White told the court that the Chief Accounting Officer ordered an audit and found discrepancies between July 2012 and January last year.

Ms White added that during an interview with education chiefs Dunlop admitted taking small amounts at first but said it became more difficult to replace as the amounts got larger.

Dunlop's solicitor Colin Adam said: "It was repaid as a result of a loan that was given to Mrs Dunlop by her uncle.

"Not only did she have to admit her guilt to the school and police, but her less immediate family had to find out as well.

"There are always a number of reasons behind offending of this type. It had nothing to do with providing a lavish lifestyle for herself."

Mr Adam said that she married in 2011 but her husband had a severe alcohol problem.

He added: "She was under pressure from her husband to provide money for him and his alcohol.

"She didn't want the marriage to end as soon as it had began.

"She has shown a significant amount of regret and shame, she is a tortured sole.

"Her actions were utterly shameful and utterly reprehensible."

The solicitor told the court that Dunlop had since ended the marriage and started a new relationship.

He said that she hadn't repaid the loan to her uncle as he had since passed away.

Mr Adam added that she had found a new job but was sacked after they found out about the charges against her.

And Sheriff Scott Pattison blasted: "In the ordinary course the court would at least strongly consider a custodial sentence in a case like this given the breach of trust.

"But you are obviously extremely remorseful."

The sheriff ordered Dunlop to carry out 240 hours of unpaid work within 12 months.

He added: "That's the highest number of hours I can impose.

"If you breach it you will be sent to custody."