The 52-year-old mum from Solihull rinsed Tyseley-based Wilco Manufacturing. She even pocketed vast sums in years when other staff had to take pay cuts and the business had lost one of its biggest customers, Birmingham Live.
Reeves started work as the office manager in 2004 and was responsible for the management of accounts, wages, supplier payments and employee contracts. Significantly, she had full access to the business's Sage accounting software and NatWest bank account. When Mr Lane confronted Reeves she admitted carrying out the fraud claiming she was at risk of losing her house in her divorce. When asked to put a figure on what she had taken during a formal disciplinary meeting she replied 'hundreds of thousands'.
Mr Lane revealed in 2013 and 2014 Wilco was reeling from losing its biggest customer, which fell into administration. He was forced to take out a large overdraft and personally invest £20,000, matched by his father, to ensure the company got by. In the same two-year period Reeves pilfered nearly £120,000 from the accounts.