A GREEDY accounts assistant who stole more than £63,300 from her dying boss, has been jailed for 18 months.

And after the case, cancer-stricken director Ken Harrison said she got what she deserved.

Burnley Crown Court heard how mother of one, Mandy Mills, 34, was fleecing Mr Harrison's business whilst both he and his daughter were having hospital treatment for leukaemia and whilst he was at family funerals.

Mills left staff at Huncoat-based landscape gardening business UK Maintenance Services Limited, without cash at Christmas 2005 but Mr Harrison took money to their homes, leaving himself hard up for the festive season.

The court was told how Mills stole from the company over two years, transferring money from the business account into her own account, putting in false expense claim forms and using the company credit card.

She claimed to be in debt after the breakdown of her marriage but frittered away the stolen cash, living beyond her means and treating herself to household goods and hotel breaks.

Mr Harrison, 63, from Bacup, has been battling leukaemia for seven years and is terminally ill, said after the hearing that Mills had taken advantage of the trust placed in her.

And he said that the most upsetting aspect of the case was that she was transferring money whilst he was having chemotherapy.

Mr Harrison, surrounded by relations including daughter Tracy, 39, who is also fighting leukaemia, said it had been a difficult time, he was just glad it was over and he could now enjoy Christmas with his family.

The victim, who felt his condition had deteriorated because of Mills dishonesty, said: "It's most upsetting.

"You trust the girl and she does this to you. It's awful.

"She got what she deserved and I am happy with the result."

The now-jobless defendant, of Hoyle Street, Accrington, began stealing money in June 2005, two months after getting her job and carried on until she was caught red-handed, the court heard.

She admitted eight charges of theft, two of fraud and asked for 37 offences to be considered.

Mercedah Jbbari, prosecuting, told the court Mills started working with the company in April 2005, and in April this year investigations started after a staff member's wages had been paid into her personal account.

The defendant's ex-husband, who still used the account, contacted the firm after he noticed the money.

Hugh Barton, defending, said Mills' 13 year marriage had finished around the end of 2002 after her husband started seeing someone else and she had been extremely distressed.

Shortly after her 14-year-old daughter had been diagnosed with diabetes.

He said that Mills became a single mother with one income in dreadful financial circumstances.

He added: "She almost became dependent on the dripfeed of unlawfully obtained stolen money."