A FORMER printing company worker has been accused of stealing more than £1,500 from his employer.

Barry Francis, 38, from Mulberry Grove in Pinehurst, was working at Thamesdown Colour Ltd in Gorse Hill when the alleged offences took place.

Appearing on trial in Swindon Crown Court he pleaded not guilty to two counts of theft dating back to August 16 and August 21 2001.

The court heard that Francis was working as a librarian and delivery driver at the company when the offences took place.

Thamesdown Colour Ltd prints brochures, leaflets and insurance documents.

Prosecutor Ian Halliday said that one of Francis' jobs was to look after the aluminium lithographic printing plates which are used in the production process.

After being used the company has a policy of selling these to a scrap metal yard and Francis had the job of delivering the plates.

The court heard that after delivering the plates Francis would receive payment in cash and a ticket from the scrapyard to prove that the weight of the plates tallied with the payment provided.

Evidence was produced in the form a ticket from a delivery made on August 16 and two tickets from deliveries made on August 21.

The scrap metal business involved was EMR on Gypsy Lane.

The prosecution alleges that on the days in question Francis made extra deliveries of lithographic plates for which no delivery tickets were ever produced.

Instead it is alleged that he pocketed the cash himself. The sums of money involved were £844 on August 16 and £735 on August 24.

Among the witnesses for the prosecution was Colin Baird, the financial controller for Thamesdown Colour Ltd.

The trial continues.