A THIEF'S bid to pay back more than £200,000 which she stole from a family crisp farm business is still being held up by red tape.

Book keeper Alison Balm stole £218,038.75 from Fairfields Farms Crisps based in Wormingford over a four-year spell starting in 2010 by transferring money into her account and awarding herself regular bonuses and splashed the cash on luxury holidays and weekends away for herself and her family.

She was jailed for three years in July 2015 after admitting to the theft, and has been ordered to repay the money under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Balm, 50, is planning to use the money from her deceased husband Alan's estate which was left to her after he killed himself in 2014.

But the release of the funds has been delayed by Mr Balm's sister and a law firm who are executors of the will.

They are looking into money owed by Mr Balm after a company he ran called Helix Garage Limited was liquidated in 2009.

Marcus Croskell, representing Balm when she appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court on Monday said: "She would love to have this matter resolved.

"Since she has served her sentence her bank account has been frozen and she wants to get on with the rest of her life.

"The matters with Helix seem to be the last part of it."

Balm, of Rectory Meadow, Bradwell, has until July to pay back the money.

The case was adjourned until the week beginning March 20.