A chef who served up revenge after being bought out of a business has been jailed.
Gareth Douglas was a partner at Bedminster-based Naked Kitchen.
But after he developed a drug habit he was bought out by his business partners Hester Dark and Johnny Hazell, Bristol Crown Court heard.
Unfortunately for the business, though Douglas' access to its bank account was removed, he discovered he still had access to internet banking.
It enabled him to help himself to almost £40,000 over three years.
And, to top it all, he messaged Mr Hazell and threatened him.
Douglas, 41, of Fishponds Road in Fishponds, pleaded guilty to fraud between July 2016 and July last year.
He also admitted sending a threatening communication in July last year.
Judge Mark Horton jailed him for two years and two months.
He told Douglas: "You committed fraud as part of a toxic combination of greed and cold revenge."
The judge imposed a five-year restraining order banning Douglas from contact with Ms Dark and Mr Hazell.
Naomi Aylwin, prosecuting, said after the fraud was established Douglas sent threatening messages to Mr Hazell.
One read: "I'm going to hurt you.
"I followed you home a couple of times.
"I should have had you."
Mr Hazell made an impact statement saying the threats had made him anxious and caused him to "look over his shoulder".
Ms Dark said the fraud had a detrimental effect on her health and caused her panic attacks.
The court heard Douglas' removal of funds from Naked Kitchen resulted in a member of staff being laid off.
Tabitha Macfarlane, defending, said her "apologetic and ashamed" client had latterly been working as a chef in Tenerife.
Miss Macfarlane said he was passionate about paying back some of the money, and a prison term would be particularly difficult for someone with his "manic disposition".
She told the court: "The thought of 23 hours in a cell in Horfield makes him chronically nervous."
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