A finance director who stole more than £34,000 from a medical supplies firm to fund her lavish lifestyle has been spared jail.

Lynsay Railton began stealing in 'every way imaginable' from her new employers Universal Marine Medical within just three weeks of being hired, a court heard.

The 40-year-old began using company credit cards to pay for personal items and bills and even changed her own tax code so she was paid more.

Lynsay Railton stole more than £34,000 from her new employers Universal Marine Medical

Railton (pictured here in a social media post), admitted three counts of fraud by false representation and two of theft

The court heard her greed almost cost other employees their jobs at the company, which provides pharmaceutical and medical supplies.

Railton plundered the company's finances to fund her lifestyle, spending £150 on a bottle of pink champagne.

Judge Gary Burrell QC told Railton her actions were 'mean and unpleasant' as he handed her a two-year jail sentence, suspended for two years.

Prosecutor James Kellam told Southampton Crown Court in Hampshire, that the finance director made a total of 90 different personal transactions on company credit cards.

She began stealing three weeks after she was hired in August 2016 and her spending spree totalled £34,204.

Mr Kellam said: 'She stole from her employer in every way imaginable. She even changed her tax code so that effectively she was paid more.'

In a statement, read to the court, Universal Marine Medical's director of operations Colin Rees said: 'At first we thought we'd found a gem. But she totally betrayed our trust.'

Railton, from Eastleigh in Hampshire, admitted three counts of fraud by false representation and two of theft.

She has since found another job and so far repaid £14,000 of the money she stole.

The 40-year-old began using company credit cards to pay for personal items and bills

Universal Marine Medical, in Romsey supplies pharmaceutical and medical supplies to the global maritime industry

Judge Burrell also ordered her to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work and repay the remaining £20,000 to her former firm within 42 days.

He told her: 'What you did involved a significant breach of trust. You were a trusted financial controller who took money for yourself, knowing you were not entitled to do so. It was mean and unpleasant.

'I accept you are suffering from chronic anxiety and depression. I also accept you are remorseful and have no recent relevant convictions.'

Representing Railton, Zoe Chapman told the court her client had 'long-standing mental health issues which she has begun to address.'

Speaking after the case, Mr Rees said Railton had been 'extremely clever' in covering her tracks during the thefts between August 2016 and May 2017.

He added: 'If the thefts hadn't been uncovered, the company would have had to reduce its costs and people would have lost their jobs.'