Bolton wedding centre boss jailed over £20k theft
The former manager of a wedding centre business has been jailed after she admitted stealing up to £20,000 from the company's accounts.
Deborah Owen, 43, took the money while working at Solitaire Wedding Centre in Bolton between 2007 and 2012, Greater Manchester Police said.
She was caught after an audit revealed she had falsified documents in an attempt to cover her tracks.
Owen, from Northampton, was jailed for 10 months at Bolton Crown Court.
Owen, who pleaded guilty to theft at an earlier hearing, had offered to buy the business outright from the owner in 2011, police said.
But she was suspended in April 2012 after "irregularities" were found in the company accounts during the due diligence process ahead of the possible sale of the business.
A full police investigation then commenced and Owen was arrested.
Det Con Jon Roman said: "As a result of Owen's actions, the business has struggled to make ends meet and has had to let members of staff go to reduce running costs.
"Her actions have had a huge impact on people's lives."