A FORMER supervisor at a Bicester off-licence denied stealing £4,330 on his last day at work.

Marc Lyall is accused of committing one count of theft on March 13 last year while working at a McColl’s in Market Square.

Naomi Perry, prosecuting, told a jury at Oxford Crown Court that a total of £4,330 went missing on the 23-year-old’s last day and there was “nobody else in the frame”.

She said on the day the money disappeared the defendant, of Delph Road, Liverpool, left a note telling his boss he was quitting and would not be working his notice.

Miss Perry said he had been working from 5.30am to 10pm and had responsibility for cashing up at the end as well as taking money to the bank.

But the barrister added that when the store manager came in the next morning, £1,603 was missing from the safe and the bank had not received a further £2,737.

Giving evidence for the first time yesterday, Lyall told the jury he had not taken the money to the bank because he was busy, but left it in the safe.

Defence barrister John Upton asked him: “Did you take that money? Did you steal that money?”

Lyall replied: “No.”

Mr Upton said: “Did you know anything about £1,600 going missing on top of the banking money?”

Lyall replied: “No.”

Asked how a green cashbag from the shop ended up in his home, Lyall said he must have picked it up by accident.

The trial continues.