A FRAUD prevention accountant stole more than £81,000 from his employers to fund a lavish lifestyle, a court heard.

Stephen Clark stole the cash from Bolton-based DRL Ltd and spent it on a car, a £5,000 television and visits to bars and lap dancing clubs.

The 30-year-old had been employed to detect fraud.

But he siphoned-off cash from a little-used company account meant for customer refunds.

He made 50 separate payments to his private bank account over 20 months, totalling £81,430.

Clark, of St George’s Street, Bolton, was caught when his bank reported the suspicious activity to police.

He was arrested last February when he still had almost £20,000 in his bank account.

He pleaded guilty at Bolton Crown Court yesterday to theft and was sentenced to 12 months in prison.

Clark was also given three months to repay £25,000 under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

The money will be returned to the company.

Judge Maureen Roddy said: “You worked your way up through the company so well they even sponsored you to undertake professional qualifications.

“Unhappily, their confidence in you was not repaid, because you helped yourself to their money.

“You didn’t use the money out of need, you used it out of greed.”

DRL Ltd, based in Horwich, specialises in online sales of kitchen appliances.

In a statement after the case, the company said: “Stephen Clark was a member of the DRL family for more than six years.

“During this time, DRL supported him through his professional qualifications, allowing him to rise through the ranks and be promoted to a trusted position of assistant management accountant.

“Regrettably, Stephen has proved himself to be disloyal and abused the faith and responsibility placed in him.

“He has not only let himself down but also those who came into contact with him throughout the business.

“Fellow employees feel shocked and appalled by his actions.”

The spokesman added that the theft of the money would impact on the way the business operated in the future.

He added: “The choices made by Stephen throughout his career at DRL have resulted in him being suitably punished in the courts.

“DRL will make sure the necessary measures are put in place to ensure this never happens again.”