A SOUTH West Trains employee stashed takings at home and dipped into them when he needed cash, Southampton Crown Court heard.

Narinder Potiwal, 36, acknowledged he stored the money in his bedroom for "safe-keeping" after returning to work from ill-health.

He told the court: "I was recently bereaved. My mother to whom I was very close died.

"I was distressed and found it very difficult to cope. I was diagnosed with Bell's palsy and was absent from work for about five weeks."

Potiwal, who worked in the ticket office at St Denys railway station, admitted taking money over a three-month period until December 2006, but returned it "in bulk" to his employers.

However, he accepted his behaviour was dishonest.

Potiwal, of Cranbury Avenue, Newtown, Southampton, admitted stealing an unknown amount of money and had bail extended pending sentence on January 30.

The matter came to light in January 2007 when no takings were found to have been banked. This led to an investigation and his arrest.