A ‘GREEDY’ woman from Oswaldtwistle has been jailed for two years after being found guilty of defrauding a company out of more than £52,000.

Kathleen Roberts, of Ashley Court, was sentenced at Chester Crown Court after she was convicted of fraud by abuse of position.

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During a period of eight years the 47-year old stole money from Taylor Business Park in Warrington using the cash to buy fashion accessories, fuel and domestic items for herself.

Paul Taylor, managing director, said: “To find that an employee that you have trusted for so many years has been stealing from you is devastating.

“PC Mike Luckett helped us take a step back and focus on gathering the required evidence to see this taken to court with such a favourable outcome.”

Roberts, who was an accounts manager for the business, stole a total of £52,155.90 from the company.

Mr Taylor said: “We could have begun to understand Kate’s motivation if she had stolen from us out of necessity, but then you look at some of the items that she bought with the money, Nandos vouchers, phone top up cards, sofa beds, garden furniture, handbags and fashionable clothing.

“That said, we’re happy to move on from here and draw a line under all of this.”

It was uncovered during the trial that Roberts created false invoices for work that was never carried out on site in order to trick the business accounts.

Cllr Paul Thompson, who represents St Oswald’s on Hyndburn Council, said: “It’s a worse crime than robbery, completely despicable and it’s bad to hear someone from Oswaldtwistle could give the town such a bad name.

“It was a planned meditated crime and clearly she wasn’t even thinking about the consequences.

“It is terrible for the business and people she worked with could have lost their jobs for her greedy actions.

“In my opinion she should have got more than two years.”

PC Mike Luckett said: “Roberts relied on her position of trust to siphon money from the business.

“I’m sure that her time behind bars will bring home the consequences of her actions.

“I’m pleased to see that all our hard work has resulted in a conviction and sends a message to those tempted by their position that crime definitely doesn’t pay and you too could end up sitting in a prison cell.”