Boss gets £120,000 back from jailed man

9:32am Tuesday 29th April 2008

The boss of a Bolton furniture company has told how he had recovered £120,000 from an employee who stole from him to fund an infatuation with prostitutes.

Former magistrate Michael Lee siphoned off the money while working as company secretary for Alec's Three Piece Suite Warehouse in Great Lever.

Lee, of Egerton, fiddled the books to cover up the fact he was stealing money that should have been banked.

He admitted taking the money as the company ran into difficulties and was jailed for two years in November, 2006.

In February last year, Lee was ordered to pay back £120,000 or face a further two years behind bars.

But solicitors acting for company owner Alec Bromley only managed to recover the money last week.

They unlocked the equity in Lee's home by using the Proceeds of Crime Act and were able to return almost three-quarters of the money taken from the company.

Mr Bromley said: "It's been a long two years to get my money back and I have struggled, but with the help of my family, we have kept the business going.

"I trusted Michael Lee.

"But alarm bells started ringing when a company cheque bounced, and when I questioned him about it, he went quiet and didn't turn up for work the next day.

"Later on the police visited me to say he had taken around £160,000 from my business between 2004 and 2006. I was absolutely shocked.

"I am so glad I have finally won back the money. I have been able to pay back my family and the business is back on its feet."