A Bolton businessman who faced bankruptcy after his company secretary stole thousands from him has won back the majority of his money.
Alec Bromley, who has owned Alec’s Three Piece Suite Warehouse in Great Lever for 27 years, was unaware his trusted employee, Michael Lee, was siphoning money from the company in order to feed his habit for prostitutes, until two police officers arrived at his business to say the former magistrate had handed himself in.
Mr Lee, of Egerton, admitted stealing more than £164,000 from Alec’s Three Piece Suites. He falsified the accounts to cover up the fact he had been stealing money which should have been banked.
However instead of paying for sex, Lee watched while the naked woman cleaned his house wearing only rubber gloves. Today, more than two years after the crime was revealed, Alec Bromley, says he is relieved that he can finally move on.
He said: “It’s been a long two years to get my money back and I have struggled, but with the help of my family, we have kept the business going. I trusted Michael Lee when all the time he was taking money from the company.
“Alarm bells started ringing when a company cheque bounced, and when I questioned him about it, he went quiet and didn’t turn up for work the next day. Later on the police visited me to say he had taken around £160,000 from my business between 2004 and 2006. I was absolutely shocked.
“I am so glad I have finally won back the money. I have been able to pay back my family and the business is back on its feet. I would like to thank the police officers and my solicitor, Alistair, for everything they have done over the last couple of years.”
Alistair Gregory, of Bolton law firm Stephensons Solicitors LLP, added: “Alec was a trusting employer who had no reason to think his company secretary, a former magistrate, would steal from him. Despite confiding to Mr Lee that the company appeared to be drifting into financial difficulty, Alec was kept totally in the dark about his employee’s deception.
“We immediately acted to freeze Mr Lee’s personal assets while the criminal investigation took place, and now I’m delighted that we’ve been able to recoup the majority of Alec’s money by unlocking the equity in Mr Lee’s home. Alec came close to losing his business because of a man who he trusted implicitly, and he was only saved at the time by help from his family.
“Our firm has a specialist department to deal with commercial disputes, and unfortunately, employee deception is becoming more and more prevalent. I would urge employers to be extra vigilant.”
Michael Lee was found guilty of theft and sentenced to two years in prison in November 2006, but has now been released.
Alec Bromley’s case will feature in an as yet untitled ITV1 documentary, about people who steal from their employers.
