She pleaded guilty and was today jailed for three years at Liverpool Crown Court.

Hill was the manager of an employee saving fund into which employees paid a part of their wages throughout the year. Following an investigation by Merseyside Police, it was found Hill had paid £76,050 into her own bank account.

Detective Constable Matthew Rimmer said: “A large number of employees who had placed their trust in Hill to look after their money, enabling them to save throughout the year for the Christmas period.

“Hill ruthlessly exploited that trust by taking large sums and paying them into her own bank account. It’s hard to believe that someone would stoop so low as to steal their colleagues’ hard-earned wages.”

Anyone with information on fraud is asked to contact Merseyside Police social media desk via Twitter @MerPolCC or Facebook Merseyside Police CC. You can also call 101 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or via their online form at: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/give-information.