Jailed: Mother of two stole £81k off employer in three-year long scam

Mother-of-two Joanne Kudlacek intercepted payments intended for the firm and channelled them into two bank accounts of her own, a judge was told.

The 43 year old, from Wombourne, got away with the swindle for almost three years.

It was uncovered when a phone call intended for her was answered by a colleague, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

Kudlacek, who had worked for London and Cambridge Properties in Kingswinford since 2001, was promoted to the post of credit control supervisor eight years later and turned to crime in October 2011, disclosed Mr David Swinnerton, prosecuting.

She intercepted a cheque sent to the firm by bailiffs employed to collect unpaid rents and then told them their payment had not arrived.

Kudlacek asked for a replacement electronic money transfer to be sent but gave them her bank account details instead of those of her employer.

She pulled off the con 32 times in two years eight months – while also pocketing cash paid direct by a tenant on eight further occasions – before being caught.

Mr Simon Hanns, defending, said the stolen cash had been used to pay off mortgage arrears together with personal debts – one to a loan shark – run up by Kudlacek.

The lawyer explained: "She did most of the family finances and her husband knew nothing of this."

He continued: "She is so ashamed that she had not even told him or their children of her court appearance."

Kudlacek, from Forge Leys, of previous good character, admitted the theft of £81,616 and was jailed.

The defendant, who now faces a Proceeds of Crime hearing, has a £35,000 mortgage on a property worth around £140,000, the court heard.

London and Cambridge Properties declined to comment.