THE financial controller of a Wellington firm has been jailed for more than ten years for stealing over £1 million from the company.

Michael Kennedy Black, 56, (pictured) siphoned off the money from Bathroom Village over several years by setting up multiple bank accounts as a smokescreen.

After Black’s frauds were uncovered, it emerged he had spent some of the £1.1million he stole on an extension and renovations at his home in Hallatrow, near Bristol, floodlights and an umpire’s chair for the tennis court in the grounds of the house, a snow machine, a drone, Christmas shopping at Waitrose; and hotel rooms and fuel for personal travel.

He even used the company’s own money to pay for equipment for his bathroom - even though he had been given a discount - and withdrew money from a company account using the firm’s bank card at cash point machines.

Black was jailed at Bristol Crown Court last Friday for six years and nine months for one count of fraud; four years to run consecutively for a second count; and 21 months concurrently on a third charge.

His actions resulted in the firm, based in Blackdown Business Park, going into administration, although it has since been rebuilt and is now trading successfully.

After Black was jailed for the three frauds he pleaded guilty to, Bathroom Village chairman Steve Hawkins said: “I’ve got mixed feelings.

“Although he’s gone to prison, there’s a lot of money he stole which we’ll never get back after we put our trust in him.”