Women in £1.5m theft jailed

Two sisters-in-law who plundered more than £1.5 million from the Bloxwich vending machine firm they worked for were today jailed.

Finance manager of 20 years Carol Langham and cash officer Denise Langham left Coinadrink on the brink of bankruptcy as they swindled money to fund lavish lifestyles.

Today Carol, the mastermind of the crime, was jailed for four years and Denise given 18 months imprisonment by Judge Michael Dudley at Wolverhampton Crown Court. He said they were motivated by "wicked greed".

He said they brought the Bloxwich Road firm "to its knees" and put the careers of 80 people in jeopardy.

Carol, in charge of the firm's cheque book, wrote out huge sums for her own account, while other amounts were taken in coins by Denise, who would book fake floats destined for vending machines around the country. They splashed out on a large detached house, jewellery, expensive hair-dos and holidays.

The two-year scam by the pair was discovered in August 2007 when bosses spotted a discrepancy in tax accounts. They contacted Carol, who was on holiday in Florida funded by her ill-gotten gains, and she admitted everything. In total, the pair had pocketed £639,000.

A series of loans taken out in the firm's name to fill the black hole had pushed the total to around £1.5m.

Carol, aged 44, of Dunster, Dosthill, Tamworth, has pleaded guilty to 24 fraud offences. Denise Langham, 53, of Beacon Road, New Invention, Willenhall, admitted one theft offence.