Shopaholic stole £150,000 from bosses and blew it on designer labels

Carolyn Langmead, described as "obsessed" with shopping, wept as she was sentenced to three years for writing hundreds of cheques to herself.

She spent the cash on filling her wardrobe with leading labels such as Louis Vuitton, Prada and Gucci.

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The 52-year-old grandmother was such a good customer that upmarket fashion shops often closed their doors to allow her to browse alone.

When police raided her home in Bournemouth, they found 27 bin liners stuffed with exclusive clothes and accessories.

Her company car was also crammed with more than 30 bags, along with a stash of unpaid bills she had hidden from the firm.

In total, she had around 1,500 items. Most had never been used and many still had their price tags.

Langmead wore conservative outfits for her job as a secretary at AEC Electrical in Poole, Dorset, but often popped out during lunch breaks to buy the designer goods.

She emptied the family firm's bank account by cashing in forged cheques for £800 twice a week over four years.

Langmead had worked there since 1996, but it was only when she took over the accounts that she started stealing, Bournemouth Crown Court heard.

Judge Christopher Harvey Clark told her: "What you did involved a wicked breach of trust.

"You had an obsessive compulsive disorder which led to you buying all kinds of items of clothing.

"You were unable to stop yourself."

The firm's owners, Peter and Sheryl Palladino, treated Langmead as a member of their family but believe she even used some of the money to fund her daughter's lavish wedding.

Desmond Duffy, prosecuting, said most of the money was spent on clothes and handbags.

He added: "After her arrest, police searched Mrs Langmead's home and a substantial quantity of clothing, footwear, handbags and other accessories were found.

"The officers described the wardrobe in the bedroom as being very full of such items. They found in another bedroom 27 black bags which contained more items.

"The items were examined and the total value was just under £34,000."

The court heard that Langmead has a previous convictions for theft. In 1995 she was jailed for three months after forging signatures on cheques to steal £20,000 while working at a private hospital.

Brian Sharman, defending, said Langmead suffered from an obsessive compulsive disorder.

He read out part of a psychological-report which stated: "She was not interested in what she bought, but about the quantity of items.

"She became obsessed with going to the shops and buying items."

Mr Sharman added that Langmead had paid back £79,000.

She admitted a charge of theft between 2002 and 2006 and two charges of dishonestly obtaining money by deception.