Magician pocketed cash register money

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LONDON, Feb. 8 (UPI) -- A London magician pleaded guilty to using his sleight-of-hand skills to pocket cash while working at a store's cheese counter.

Police said Amit Gadhia, 35, worked as a magician at Harrods before handling a cash register at the cheese counter, where he used his prestidigitation training to take small amounts of cash from the register, The Daily Telegraph reported Friday.

"The defendant was previously a magician within the store and used his talent to take money with one hand and secrete it with the other," prosecutor Tom Gill said.

A small amount of cocaine was found on Gadhia when he was searched.

Defense attorney Catherine Newey said Gadhia, who lives with his parents, was left broke after helping his parents with money.

"He lives with his elderly parents and after the house was burgled they decided to install a security system and he contributed quite a significant amount in relation to that," Newey said. "He simply had no money to get the basics and was tempted by the opportunity that arose. The cash taken was of a low value and it was a very small amount of cocaine which he had for his own use."

Gadhia pleaded guilty to theft by employee and possessing a controlled drug of Class A. He is scheduled to be sentenced Monday.