A SHOP assistant who must repay £28,000 to the couple she befriended and betrayed has received a suspended prison sentence.

Ampleforth sub-postmistress Fiona Senior told a judge she thought Diane Lathlean, 50, was her “best friend” in the village.

But for years, York Crown Court heard, her employee was taking stock every week until the village shop and post office was struggling financially. She had an old previous conviction for stealing from an employer Mr and Mrs Senior did not know about. “She was systematically stealing from our business and keeping a smile on her face,” Mrs Senior wrote in her victim statement.

“I totally trusted her. Little did I realise her other agenda.”

The Seniors told the judge they had had a three-day holiday in a caravan while Lathlean was enjoying cruises and family trips to Premiership football matches, claiming that her husband had a well-paid job, and that the stress had affected them. Paul Senior had started a chimney sweeping business to help keep the family finances afloat.

Lathlean, of Geldgate, Ampleforth, denied stealing £3,000 over two years from the couple but was convicted at a trial by Scarborough magistrates and committed for sentence to York Crown Court where Recorder Ben Nolan QC gave her a six-month prison sentence suspended for two years on condition she did 140 hours’ unpaid work. She must also pay £300 prosecution costs.

Mrs Senior said: “She is a manipulative lair and people have fallen for it time and time again.”

Of the sentence, she said: “We have to abide by the law and that is what it is. We have to move on.”

Prosecution barrister Laurie Scott said the police had investigated other matters besides the thefts but had not found sufficient evidence for a prosecution. In a civil case, where the burden of proof is lower, Lathlean and the Seniors had settled out of court for her to pay them £28,000.

Miss Scott said Lathlean was caught when Mr Senior investigated stock losses and she was filmed on CCTV taking stock.

For Lathlean, Julian Tanikal said she worked part-time like other staff and had no special responsibilities. Her husband worked for American Express and the cruises had been paid for through his work.