A KFC worker who stole almost £11,000 by processing thousands of fake popcorn chicken refunds has been spared jail.

For more than a year James Anderson, of Soane Street, Basildon, pretended to hand money back to customers for the £1.99 snacks, but pocketed the cash instead.

Basildon Crown Court heard the 30-year-old embarked on the money-making strategy in January last year...and he said it was because his fiancee earned more than he did.

He admitted one count of theft from employer to the value of £10,841, after he was caught out in February this year.

The court heard bosses at the franchise in Pitsea became suspicious after noticing a high number of refunds being processed under Anderson’s till ID.

Yvette Kresner, mitigating, said Anderson, who sobbed throughout most of yesterday’s hearing, had been desperate to contribute financially to his upcoming wedding.

She said: “Popcorn chicken was the product that was used in relation to the refunds.

“He’s very fortunate that his wife still wanted to marry him.

“He realised that by trying to be on a par with his partner and not relying on her, the beginning of their married life could be fragmented forever.

“He says he hadn’t really reflected on his actions but he has now had a great deal of time to reflect.

“There was some degree of planning, but his actions were not that sophisticated. It was always going to fall at his door that the money had been taken by him.

“He realises that he will have to pay something back but the reality is that he can only afford £150 a month at this stage.”

Judge David Pugh said despite Anderson having one previous conviction for shoplifting and one for theft from an employer in 2008, he was prepared to give him another chance.

He said: “For a period of over a year, from January 2015 to February 2016, by giving refunds and taking the money yourself you caused a loss to your employer to the sum of £10,841.

“Because it is over £10,000 it has a starting point of one year custody. But I bear in mind that the money is at the lower end of that category.”

Anderson was handed a 28-week sentence, suspended for 18 months. after being given credit for his early guilty plea. He was ordered to pay back £150 a month, complete 150 hours of unpaid work and take part in a 30- day rehabilitation programme and thinking skills course.