A shift manager at a motorway services branch of McDonald's who was allegedly captured on camera pocketing cash told police she "habitually" put money down her clothing on her way to depositing it.

Sandra Telfer made the claim after she was arrested on suspicion of stealing more than £13,000 in less than three months while working at the Roadchef at junction 8 of the M20 near Hollingbourne.

Maidstone Crown Court was told when the central cash office in the motorway services main building was unmanned between 5pm and 9am, managers at the fast food franchise were themselves responsible for making and recording cash drops of money taken during their shifts.

The till money would be put into cash bags - together with a copy of the till receipt - and then deposited down a chute rather than handed over to an individual working in the office.

However, an internal investigation revealed money was going missing - and only on days when Telfer (pictured above) worked.

When CCTV footage was viewed in relation to one missing sum, it showed the 46-year-old putting a cash bag into her coat pocket.

Prosecutor Sophie Shotton said Telfer "could not recall" doing this when asked by police.

"But she said when she took money from the safe to the cash drop she would habitually put money down the front of her trousers in case on her journey anyone would try and get the money from her."

Sandra Telfer was a shift manager at McDonald's on the M20

Other CCTV footage showed her counting nine cash bags from the office safe, but only depositing seven down the chute.

However, Telfer, of Oxford Road, Maidstone, denied stealing any money.

"She accepted that from what could be seen she was first choice suspect but stated the responsibility for the money wasn't hers but the shift managers who had worked before her," added Miss Shotton.

"It is a feature of this case that money missing is money generated during the previous shift.

"The Crown would say she specifically targets money generated during the previous shift so suspicion would not fall upon her but the earlier shift managers."

Telfer denies 25 charges of theft totalling £13,345.70 between December 30 2011 and March 5 last year.

The trial is being heard at Maidstone Crown Court

The jury heard a fellow shift manager later told police that Telfer would offer to deposit his cash bags for him, sometimes even when he was en route to dropping the money off himself.

"Trusting her and being tired, he would agree, thinking she was just being helpful," said Miss Shotton.

Telfer, who mainly worked the nightshift between 11am and 7pm, was confronted by her bosses in March last year.

She was suspended on full pay, but failed to attend two disciplinary hearings and was dismissed from her job in her absence. The matter was then reported to the police.

Inquiries into her financial circumstances showed she had defaulted on credit card and mobile phone payments and had an outstanding county court judgment for almost £6,000.

The trial continues.