Lettings boss Joanne Barker, 46, plundered rental payments earmarked for landlords.

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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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