THE finance director of discount warehouse in Bradford has been jailed after plundering the tills of almost £24,000 to pay for luxuries, including exotic sunshine holidays.

Employees who lost their jobs when the Price Pounder store closed down in June this year, were at Bradford Crown Court yesterday to see Susan McCaffrey, 56, led down to the cells to begin a 15 month prison sentence.

McCaffrey pleaded guilty to stealing £23,901 from the company, between June 25, 2012, and July 20, last year.

Prosecutor Clare Benson said the defendant was accounts manager at Price Pounder which was based in Wharfedale Road on the city's Euroway Industrial Estate, before she was promoted to finance director.

After discrepancies were spotted in the firm's accounts, it was discovered she had stolen from the tills instead of banking the takings.

She had also written company cheques, both to herself and to finance companies she owed money to, Miss Benson said.

The court heard that the store had since gone into administration.

McCaffrey told the police she was struggling financially and living beyond her means.

She had five credit cards, each "maxed out" up to their £4,000 limit and a £7,000 loan.

Miss Benson said the defendant had taken holidays in Egypt, Turkey and Morocco during the period she was stealing from the company.

McCaffrey was on the board of directors and in a high degree of trust.

In mitigation, her barrister, Abigail Langford, said she was of previous exemplary good character.

She made full and frank admissions and no suspicion was thrown on to any other employee at the store.

McCaffrey's husband had battled alcohol problems and she wanted to provide the lifestyle they had previously enjoyed to help him recover.

"She fully accepts, and no way seeks to minimise, this offence," Miss Langford said.

McCaffrey was now working for another employer in a financial capacity.

"She is once again trusted with a high degree of responsibility," Miss Langford told the court.

Judge David Hatton QC told McCaffrey: "You were invested with a high degree of trust in dealing with the finances of that business.

"You abused that trust and systematically, over 12 months, helped yourself to £23,901, either by removing cash or making out cheques to yourself. You were being paid a wage. The money was taken to fund a lifestyle your means could not cope with, which included holidays abroad.

"I would be failing in my duty if I did not impose a sentence of imprisonment."

A timetable was set for a confiscation hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act.