A PAYROLL clerk who stole £132,000 from a Southend cleaning company has been ordered to pay it back in six months.

Julie Barrett, 51, of Doric Avenue, Rochford, was ordered to pay £80,161 in compensation to Simply Better Services, of London Road, Westcliff, when she appeared at Basildon Crown Court.

Barrett immediately admitted to stealing £132,000 from the company over an 18-month period when she was first arrested in 2011. In May, she was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment by Basildon Crown Court, though she was released after three months.

The company was able to claim back about £50,000 of the stolen cash in tax and National Insurance from HM Revenue and Customs, leaving Barrett to pay back the outstanding amount.

Office manager Leanne Clark said the company was satisfied with the ruling, but would not rest until the full amount was recovered.

She said: “When we get it, we will be happy.

“We’re told she has a house she is selling to raise the cash, but I’m sure it will go back to court if she doesn’t pay up.

“This has been going on for well over a year, though, and we just want to put it behind us.”