A SUFFOLK bank manager is due to appear in court next month after being accused of stealing more than �12,000 from customers’ accounts.

Janet Coleman was working at Lloyds TSB in Market Place, Southwold, at the time of the alleged offences.

The 47-year-old is facing three charges of theft by employee.

The allegations all related to unauthorised transactions, which are said to have taken place in a three-week period in the summer of last year.

One of the charges relates to �3,207 which is said to have stolen. The remaining two allegations involve amounts of around �4,000 and �5,000.

The transactions are alleged to have occurred between June 26, 2009, and July 10, 2009.

Coleman, of Reeve Close, Scole, near Diss, is understood to have been the manager of the Southwold branch when the alleged thefts occurred.

A spokeswoman for Suffolk Constabulary said Coleman was arrested on March 25 this year and interviewed by officers at Lowestoft police station.

She was released on bail pending further inquiries, before being charged on July 19.

Coleman has appeared before Lowestoft Magistrates’ Court for the early hearings of her case.

She is currently on unconditional bail following her latest appearance earlier this month.

Coleman must return to the magistrates’ court for her next hearing, which is scheduled for October 5.

No plea has been entered at this stage of the proceedings.