A BARMAID stole almost £9,000 takings from the Southampton pub where she worked and lived - and blew the lot at the casino opposite, a court heard.

Gambling addict Sandra Issa stole the cash over a two-month period while the owners were away on holiday and had put her in charge of the premises.

The city crown court heard the thieving almost made the business bankrupt and jeopardised the jobs of colleagues.

Owner David Riley said he and his partner Raymond Cole had helped Issa financially and she had described them as wonderful, kind people. She had even been a guest at their civil partnership ceremony in October 2006.

"But this is the way she repaid us," Mr Riley told the court.

Prosecutor Louise Gray said Issa sent a text message to them: "You probably don't want to hear from me, but I want to say I am very sorry for what I have done."

Issa, 50, of Thornbury Avenue, Southampton, pleaded guilty to stealing £8,833 from the London Hotel in Terminus Terrace.

Giving her an eight-month suspended sentence, Recorder Harry Martineau told her: "You owed your employers everything, not only your job, your earnings but also your home.

They trusted you and you betrayed that trust.

"You have turned them from being your strongest advocates into having no love for you at all.

You are no better off. The only persons who have won are the casino."

Mitigating at the city crown court, Christopher Gair described Issa's crime as unsophisticated as it would have been quickly picked up by the pub's banking system. He said Issa had eventually realised enough was enough and handed herself in at the police station. She was said to be of previous good character, Mr Gair said the catalyst had been the death of Issa's brother.

He added: "Although she had a little flutter in the past, she gambled more and more after his death. Every other day she went across to the casino to gamble.

"She has since joined Gamblers Anonymous in Southampton and wants to pay the money back."

The judge also ordered her to do 140 hours community work and pay £2,600 compensation in 12 months.