Joanna Goodall (pictured outside court) stole £19,000 from the Premier Inn hotel where she worked as a receptionist . A receptionist who stole £19,000 from the hotel she worked at has been told to pay back just £1. Joanna Goodall forged signatures of customers and colleagues for cash refunds at a Premier Inn in Newcastle and took the money for herself. Bosses noticed the high level of refunds and CCTV showed Goodall taking money from the till. The 30-year-old mother, who is pregnant, admitted the thefts between March 2013 and February 2014 at Newcastle Crown Court. Goodall, of Lemington in Newcastle, was given a nine-month suspended sentence but ordered to pay back just £1 under the Proceeds of Crime Act as she has no assets. Mr Recorder Wheeler told her: 'You have a number of personal issues, family issues and health issues. 'You were subject to a lot of stress as a result of other people leaning on you for support and trying to balance your life and keep everyone happy. The way you chose to do that ultimately was to steal from your employer.' Prosecutors had initially accused her of stealing £35,000, but accepted her guilty plea on the basis of the amount being around £19,000. Jonathan Devlin, prosecuting, said: 'This defendant was identified as creating false cash refunds. 'She had used cash refund receipts with forged signatures from customers and other members of staff involved in such refunds. 'She submitted them and took appropriate amounts of cash from the till. 'All available CCTV was viewed and she was seen on a number of occasions processing refunds with no customers present, taking money from the till and either putting it in her pocket or handbag.' Mr Devlin said: 'She was arrested by the police and accepted the theft of significant sums of money. 'She said no other employees were involved nor did they know what she was doing. 'The defendant said she knew there was no way it could have been repaid because of the way she disguised it.' Donald MacFaul, defending, said Goodall had worked for the company for seven years. He added: 'Things went awry in her life. In addition to emotional pressure, financial strain arose and she fell into temptation. 'She realised early on she would be found out but couldn't see a way to break the cycle. She still has outstanding debts.' Goodall was given a nine-month suspended sentence after admitting to stealing from the Premier Inn in Newcaste (pictured) and ordered to pay back just £1 as she has no assets .
Joanna Goodall forged signatures for cash refunds at a Premier Inn .
Bosses noticed high level of refunds and CCTV which showed Goodall taking money from the till .
The pregnant 30-year-old admitted thefts at Newcastle Crown Court .
Goodall, of Newcastle, was given a nine-month suspended sentence .