A finance manager who stole almost £360,000 from the Maidstone construction company she worked for is facing jail along with her husband.

Gail and Richard Gardiner, both 47, went to Maidstone Crown Court today prepared to go into custody with packed bags, but a judge adjourned sentence until after Christmas "as an act of compassion".

Gail Gardiner, of Shire Way, Westbury, Wiltshire, admitted fraud in which she paid £359,056 belonging to Hanson Aggregates, of Twenty Twenty Industrial Estate, St. Laurence Avenue, Maidstone, into a bank account held by her husband between April 2010 and December last year.

Richard Gardiner, now of Lilac Grove, Westbury, admitted acquiring criminal property - £359,056 - between the same dates.

The court heard Gail Gardiner used her position in the company to transfer the money into her husband's name.

Judge Philip Statman said it was clear the only issue was going to be how long a prison sentence would be.

Granting conditional bail with a tagged curfew until January 2, he told the couple, who have teenage children: "Between today and the sentence date you must put your personal affairs in order. This is a serious matter.

"It clearly passes the custody threshold by some way. I will listen to submissions on the next occasion. A tagged curfew will be of some assistance to you. It is divided by two and comes off a prison sentence."