A WORKER who stole £30,000 from a new Winchester store has been ordered to pay back more than £1,000.

Mizael de Medeiros, a student at Winchester University then aged 26, admitted stealing from TK Maxx, shortly after it opened in the Brooks Centre last year.

A court heard that de Medeiros, of Church Lane, Kings Worthy, systematically stole the money through false refunds and also goods including clothes and jewellery.

Charles Gabb, prosecuting, told the court last year that de Medeiros estimated stealing "one watch per shift, plus items of clothing and small items of jewellery" and used four bank account for his crimes.

The court also heard that although de Medeiros, who has previous convictions for shoplifting in 2010 and 2011, spent some of the money on socialising, he gave money to his family and used it to pay off gambling debts.

He was jailed for 16 months.

At a hearing at Winchester Crown Court de Medeiros was was found to have benefited in the sum of £30,405.45.

Judge Richard Parkes QC granted an order under the Proceeds of Crime Act that orders de Medeiros to pay back to TK Maxx his available assets of £1,324.97.