A BRIDE who stole almost £200,000 from her employer to fund a lavish wedding at an upmarket Fylde venue has been ordered to repay just a fraction of what she stole.
Kirsty Lane splashed out on a sumptuous ceremony and reception at The Great Hall at Mains, in Singleton, filling the venue with magicians, a harpist and arranging a spectacular firework display and free bar for guests.
But the 30-year-old had stolen almost £200,000 from her employer to fund the lavish celebrations as she tied the knot with husband Graham in the village.
And now a judge has ruled she must only pay back less than a tenth of what she stole from Pure AV in Walton Summit.
At a Proceeds of Crime Hearing at Preston Crown Court on Monday, Lane, of Lewis Close, Adlington was ordered to hand over just £17.831 to her former boss Peter Wood.
Mr Wood, Pure AV’s company director, said: “A few people lost their jobs but we are flourishing now, despite having life threatening injuries a few years ago.
“It is very disappointing considering she has gained so much and had to pay back so little.
“Her guilt has put at risk 25 people who were involved in this business.”
Lane was jailed for 20 months after her scam was uncovered just days after her wedding in January 2011.
Using her role as a financial administrator Lane had made 122 payments to herself between December 2008 and January 2011.
She pleaded guilty to 10 counts of fraud by abuse of position and asked for 112 similar offences to be taken into consideration, while the court heard Mr Lane was acquitted of any wrongdoing after a retrial in May.
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