A MUM-OF-TWO who stole nearly £40,000 from her former employer faces jail if she does not begin to repay the money.

Lisa Burrows was told to pay back a total of £1,920 at a proceeds of crime hearing yesterday at Bolton Crown Court.

The former account clerk at Indespension — a trailer manufacturing company — had siphoned off money into two of her own accounts and a third in the name of her partner, who was unaware of the crime.

She hid her dishonesty — in 2011 — by recording the money as having been paid to utility suppliers British Gas, EDF Energy and United Utilities.

The 36-year-old was caught two years after leaving the company following a dispute the firm had with British Gas over unpaid bills.

The court heard she had assets totalling nearly £2,000, including a car, a personalised number plate bought for her partner, and cash held in a bank account.

Judge Clayson said: “You must pay the amount back by February 28 next year. If you fail to do that you will be liable to 35 days in prison.”

A benefit order for £41,750 was also made in court meaning that if Burrows comes into any money in the future, she must continue to pay her debt.

Tony Wood, financial investigator for Bolton police, said: “The woman has been convicted of theft from her employer, which is a breach of trust. They had lost that money and our role is to try to identify the assets that she has to repay the funds.

“However the outstanding monies remain to be paid any time in the future. If she acquires any assets she will be brought back to court until the stolen funds are repaid.”

Burrows, of Cunningham Road, Westhoughton, was sentenced to 16 months in prison, suspended for two years and ordered her to do 200 hours unpaid work, at Bolton Crown Court earlier this year, after admitting fraud.

The court had heard her family was in debt after her partner Paul Jolley was made redundant in 2010.

Burrows had initially taken the money to pay off her own household bills but then said she forgot to cancel the payments.