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by Nick Evans

A Shopkeeper betrayed by a friend who stole thousands of pounds from her business has spoken of her anger at watching the woman walk free from court.
Michelle Gobbi told the Times Guardian she was shocked that former shop helper Sharon Lofts was not sent to prison after admitting taking more than £8,000 while in a position of trust.
At Sittingbourne Magistrates Court on Monday Lofts was given a 120-day suspended prison term, 300 hours’ unpaid work, and ordered to pay back £4,399 plus £60 court costs after pleading guilty to stealing. She had already repaid £4,000 after being caught out during her employment.
Mrs Gobbi, 43, has run clothing shop You2 in High Street, Sheerness, with her mother Linda Webster for the past nine years.
She said she had completely trusted the 53-year-old even asking her to be Godmother to her son.
“She worked for us right from the beginning and we became very close friends. She was with me when I went into labour and was even going to be Godmother to my son,” she said.
“Sharon was in a position of complete trust. She had keys to the shops, knew the alarm numbers, had access to the stock and was in charge of banking.
“She knew everything about my life and how I thought the business was struggling, while she was actually taking the cash it badly needed. She was spending it on expensive designer clothes and holidays.”
Lofts of Saxon Avenue, Minster, admitted stealing £8,399 from the business which was entrusted to her in 2004.
Mrs Gobbi said the money started going missing between January 2005 and August 2007 after she opened her second shop You in Broadway in early 2005.
It came to light when a casual member of staff was unable to match credit card takings with a spreadsheet while Lofts was on holiday.
She was confronted on her return by Mrs Webster and admitted taking the money.
Mrs Gobbi said: “Even the magistrates seemed shocked at the extent of her crime and said they didn’t know how a small business like mine had survived, particularly during a recession.
“I really wanted Sharon to go to prison, even for a short time, for what she has done to me and my family. It’s disappointing but the magistrates gave her the maximum sentence they could.”