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A small, family-run bakery in the Cornish seaside town of Looe has been left devastated after discovering that a long-time friend and trusted employee stole more than £110,000 over the course of eight years. Cathryn Horsfield, 55, of Eddystone Walk, St Martin, admitted to theft by an employee at Truro Crown Court and was handed a two-year suspended prison sentence.

The thefts, which took place between 2014 and 2022, nearly forced the beloved Looe Bakery to close. Horsfield, who had been the bakery's manager, was described in court as having repeatedly taken cash from the till, exploiting her position of trust. The betrayal only came to light when bakery owner Tonia Lewis noticed discrepancies in the accounts and reviewed CCTV footage.

Recorder Malcolm Gibney said Horsfield had "helped herself out of the till" over a number of years and called the offence a "glaring breach of trust".

He added: "Everyone knows you are a thief. It became too easy."

Prosecutor Ramsay Quaife told the court the total taken was £111,296. Although Horsfield initially claimed she had stolen £71,000, the court accepted the higher figure. She has so far paid back just £1,700 and now works as a cleaner. A Proceeds of Crime hearing will follow.

Horsfield, a grandmother with no previous convictions, was also ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work.

Her defence lawyer, Rupert Taylor, said she was "ashamed at what she has done" and that "everyone in the small town where she lives knows she is a thief". He added: "It has ruined her life but she has no one to blame but herself."

The theft has taken an emotional toll on the entire bakery team.

Tristan Lewis, the owner's brother, said the betrayal had a lasting impact: "It had a huge impact on the staff that worked there during that time. All the staff felt like they were under the spotlight."

Speaking of the personal betrayal, he added: "We couldn't believe she would do this until we saw the CCTV. She had been a close family friend."

Despite the suspended sentence, Recorder Gibney made clear the severity of Horsfield's actions, noting how easily she abused her position: "This was not a one-off. This was systematic, sustained and selfish."