A Sainsbury’s boss stole thousands of pounds from the supermarket giant and then drunkenly confessed to the crime on a beer mat, a judge has been told.

Adam Platt, 24, is said to have admitted the theft while discussing the missing cash with a colleague “while in drink”.

Details of his alleged confession were revealed as Platt, of Barton Mill Road, Canterbury, appeared at the city’s crown court.

His colleague claimed Platt said the thefts had been “real easy” and she later told police: “I asked him how much had he taken?’.

“He wrote on some paper, possibly a beer mat, ‘£2,900’ and then passed it across to me. I said ‘oh my god’ and he took it back and then added another zero and slipped it back to me. And that’s when I thought he was lying.”

Platt, who now lives in Surrey, pleaded guilty to stealing from the store in Whitstable, where he was deputy manager, between September 2015 and June this year.

He says that he was taking £200 a week and believes the total figure to be nearer £16,000.

He also admitted falsifying records to cover the thefts, the court was told.

Platt’s barrister Eve George told the court: “He does not accept he wrote on a beer mat, and certainly not the figure of £29,000.

He may have written something but it was nothing like that figure.”

Judge Rupert Lowe said that a ‘mini’ trial without a jury – known as a Newton hearing – is likely to be held to decide who is telling the truth.

He told Platt: “You have pleaded guilty to stealing from your employer over a period of time.

You have said you stole approximately £16,000 and not the approximate £29,000 which is alleged.

The prosecution do not accept that. I will have to hear some evidence as the amount has some importance.”

Platt was remanded on bail. The judge ordered a pre-sentence probation report be prepared.

UPDATE: Platt has since been handed a suspended sentence.