Telford finance manager to pay back just £53,000 of £116,000 she stole from company

She had used her position as a trusted employee to help herself to funds from Morland Utilities based at Halesfield also in Telford over a 10-year period.

The 58-year-old, who admitted three counts of theft, was jailed at Stafford Crown Court earlier this year.

At a Proceeds of Crime hearing at Shrewsbury Crown Court she was told to repay a total of £53,000.15 within the next three months.

Judge Peter Barrie said: "I am pleased that this matter has now been agreed. "The benefit to Mrs Powell was £116,512.57 and the amount to be realised is £53,000.15."

Defending barrister Mr Brendan Reedy said: "The defence are in agreement with those figures and the time given will allow Mrs Powell to raise that money."

Powell, of Burnside in Brookside, Telford, stole the money between May 2002 and September 2012.

She joined the company in 1999.

At first she denied the offences, but later admitted her actions and was subsequently jailed.

When she was jailed her former employers said they were relieved that 'justice had been' served.

In a statement Morland said: "We weren't expecting the sentence to be what it was.

"It was a lot more than we thought it would be to be honest, but we feel that justice has been served and we are happy with the sentence she has received.

"She was a trusted member of staff and she had worked for the company since not long after it started in 1999.

"You just do not expect your accounts manager to do that to you.

"She was clearly enjoying the high life at the company's expense.

"She always said she was innocent, but she was told to change her plea by the judge and she has been sent down for it.

"When we found out what she had done we were shocked and we didn't know what to think.

"It appeared to have been going on for many years, but she always denied taking the money from us and only changed her plea in December.

"Despite what amount of money she took from us the company has been doing well."