Lettings boss Joanne Barker, 46, plundered rental payments earmarked for landlords.
Her crimes went on for four years under the noses of husband Paul, 50, and their friends and business partners Ian and Jo-Anne Tweedley.
Barker diverted some of the cash into the account of lover Andrew Taylor and let him live rent-free in a property.
It left Mr Tweedley, 57, and his wife, 52, battling to save their estate agency, Barton Kendall, in Rochdale, Manchester.
In a statement he said: ”Jo and I worked tirelessly to build up and maintain the business in really difficult times and we became one of the leading lettings agencies in the area with a long standing reputation.
”I thought life was rosy, I thought we were financially secure albeit not rich, the mortgage was nearly paid off and I was gearing up to retire at 60.
“When we took on Joanne, she became a trusted family friend and I felt assured she would run the business in my absence.
”But all that came crashing down when I found out she was siphoning off clients’ money from the business and stealing all the tenants deposits.
“That day was the worst of my life. I was in the office at 3am as I couldn’t sleep and my heart sunk as I realised my business was in tatters.
”What followed was two years of stress, panic and exhaustion to the point of nearly having a breakdown.
“I was determined to save the business but with such limited funds I was very concerned we might have to fold the company as I didn’t see a way out.
Barker admitted fraud and got a suspended jail term, an unpaid work order and faces a Proceeds of Crime hearing.
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