A doctor's surgery manager has been jailed for two years after stealing more than £180,000 from her employers at a Colchester practice.

Belinda Harrison, 35, wrote out cheques to herself and her partner for thousands of pounds before bosses at the Parson's Heath Medical Practice realised what she was doing.

And a court heard on Friday how staff at the practice were not paid for some time because of Harrison's thefts.

It was only when a bank phoned the practice to ask about a £30,000 overdraft that her thefts came to light, Chelmsford Crown Court heard.

By that time, Harrison had spent the money on sending her daughter to a private school, decorating her house, a holiday and giving cash to relatives.

An audit later revealed she had written out cheques in her former name of Belinda Downs and others in the name of her partner Alan Bywater.

The total amount of money she stole was £186,521.80p, Brendan McArdle, prosecuting, told the court.

Harrison, from Regent Road, Brightlingsea, admitted seven specimen charges of stealing credit balances from her employer.

She asked for another 199 similar offences to be taken into consideration when she appeared in court for sentence.

Recorder John Akast jailed her for a total of two years.

The court heard Harrison was employed by the practice earning about £26,000 a year as a fund-holding manager and had control of two bank accounts as well as control of all the day-to-day money coming into the practice.

She had been the manager since December 1994 but within three months, she was stealing money from her employers.

Marc Canatella, mitigating, said Harrison had been open and frank with police after she was arrested.

She admitted stealing the money and said at the time she was under pressure from members of her family, who she said had financial problems.

"There was no question of her living an extravagant lifestyle," he added.

Recorder Akast did not impose a compensation order on Harrison as the court heard civil action may be taken to recover some of the losses through the sale of Harrison's house.

This could amount to about £65,000 the court heard.

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