Amanda Lawrie stole the cash straight from the till by carrying out fake refunds over a four-month period last year.

The 30-year-old assistant manager took the money from the Disney Stores in Princes Street and the Gyle Shopping Centre.

Lawrie, of South Gyle Road, had started work with the firm nearly 14 years ago as a teenager.

In 2000 she was lauded by bosses at the Disney Corporation's headquarters in London after coming up with the "inspired idea" of Scots-themed Beanie toys to sell at its Edinburgh stores.

The tartan-clad McMickey's and McMinnie's ran up sales of several thousand. Disney chiefs said it was the first time any of their store staff had designed their own Mickey Mouse toy.

But following the break-up of a relationship, Lawrie fell into debt and struggled to meet mortgage payments on her home, and to pay credit card bills.

Yesterday, she pleaded guilty at Edinburgh Sheriff Court to embezzling the cash between August 31 and December 30 last year to help meet her debts.

Her lawyer admitted Lawrie could be facing a jail sentence over the crime, adding that her client felt "embarrassed and ashamed".

Lawrie offered to pay back the missing money, but is currently unemployed and can only stump up £5 a week. Sheriff Isabella McColl deferred sentence for three months and said she wanted to see firm evidence of repayment, "not just words".

Fiscal Naeema Sajid, said Lawrie used her staff key and identity number to make false refund payments at the shops and pocketed the cash.

She stole £663 while working at the Princes Street store by carrying out 22 such transactions.

Later, when she was transferred to the Gyle outlet, she took a further £1395 by the same method.

The embezzlement only came to light after a trading review was carried out at the stores.

Ms Sajid added: "The accused was interviewed by members of staff at the store. She admitted carrying out the thefts and offered to resign. She was suspended and told a disciplinary hearing would have to be held.

"The police were later called and she admitted fully her responsibility to officers."

Lawrie's agent said: "Ms Lawrie is currently unemployed but she has been offered a full-time job with a recruitment agency. She is in a position to pay back £5 a week to the store at the moment but she hopes that will change if she gets the post.

"Ms Lawrie was in a long-term relationship which ended and she was left to pay a mortgage on the home on her own. She also had debts with credit cards. She was in financial difficulty and did not think of the consequences. She is embarrassed and ashamed, but committed to repaying the debt."

A spokeswoman for the Disney Corporation said: "The matter was handed over to the police and we co-operated fully with them."

Sheriff McColl said Lawrie had committed the offence while in a position of trust and ordered her to return to court for sentencing on November 8.