Ex-Bexhill College student faces jail

Sara Drage, 23, of Seaside Road, Eastbourne, stole 84,700 from the Halifax agency run by Steel and Co in Old Town.

She is a former Bexhill College student - her parents live local.

She was arrested after money was reported missing from a company safe and ATM on Monday May 14.

Staff at the branch in Albert Parade, Green Street, noticed the money had gone missing after they arrived for work.

Drage was reported missing the same morning when she did not turn up for work.

A police appeal for information on her whereabouts had spread to France and Interpol was involved in the hunt.

Her car and passport had been used to book a ferry crossing from Dover to Calais.

She was detained by detectives when she landed at Gatwick Airport on a flight from Barcelona.

At a plea and case management hearing at Lewes Crown Court today Drage pleaded guilty to theft.

Prosecutor Oliver Dunkin told the court, "The money represents the theft of the contents of an ATM machine and a safe at a Halifax building society.

"She was working there as a cleaner and cashier. There will be an application under the Proceeds of Crime Act. She is a young lady of hitherto entirely good character."

Defending, Julian Dale told the court only 2,000 of the haul had been recovered after she was robbed of the rest.

He said, "She accepts she is responsible for the theft but not responsible for all of the money disappearing.

"Within 24 hours almost all of the money had been robbed from her in turn. She is prepared and keen to speak to the police about who was responsible for that."

Judge Guy Anthony ordered reports before sentencing Drage on September 27 and remanded her in custody.

He told her, "I shall adjourn this matter to enable a pre-sentence report to be prepared on you.

"I am prepared to allow this to happen in your case given your age and lack of previous convictions.

"But as you are well aware the amount of money involved is so great that a custodial sentence is inevitable. But a report may assist as to the length of the sentence."