A bookkeeper who stole over £80,000 from her employers and spent some of it on fine wines and private school fees has been ordered to pay back £8,500.

At a confiscation hearing at Maidstone Crown Court Judge Martin Joy told Anne Broad, 41, she must pay the money, and serve six months in default of non-payment.

He warned her that it was not a case of “one or the other.”

“If the money is not paid and you serve the sentence in default you will still be liable to pay the amount,” he explained.

Mother-of-two Broad, of Redleaf Close, Tunbridge Wells, was given 12 months to pay.

The court heard she was originally charged with stealing almost £100,000 from Heronswood Press, based at the Spa Industrial Estate in Longfield Road, Tunbridge Wells.

But the prosecution accepted her plea of guilty to theft over a three year period on the basis of £80,484.

She was jailed for a year at an earlier hearing last year, but appeared today no longer a serving prisoner.

The court heard she has realisable assets of £8,500, which includes land worth £6,500 and a car worth £1,500.

Broad had joined the company on a part-time basis and discrepancies were discovered in August 2005 while she was on holiday. Prosecutor Paul Valder said figures were unusually low and bogus invoices were found.

The managing director’s signature had been forged on cheques. He confronted Broad, who was also running a shoe business, and she repaid £27,000. However, when no more money was forthcoming the police were informed.

She used the money she stole to pay off credit cards and to help her father’s own failing business.

Tarquin McCalla, defending, said at the earlier hearing Broad was under a great deal of stress and anxiety. He added she believed she was being taken advantage of and had “a moral entitlement” to the money.

Her marriage collapsed, her drinking increased and she suffered from depression.

On passing the jail term, Judge Joy said the offence was “devious and elaborate”, motivated by greed.