A MAN has been jailed for 28 months after stealing £124,000 from his employer to fund his gambling habit.

Trainee accountant Wing Chan abused his position of trust at a Hampshire export company by siphoning off large sums of money over a long period.

Chan turned to crime after being taken on by Braishfield-based Spanfair Limited, based at Hawkes Farm.

Daily Echo:

His fraudulent activity had such a severe impact on its finances that company director Ronald Woodthorpe had to use £75,000 of his own money to shore up the business.

The two men initially enjoyed a good working relationship, Southampton Crown Court was told.

Tom Wilkins, prosecuting, said Mr Woodthorpe took the defendant "under his wing" and hoped his progress at Spanfair would ultimately lead to him being appointed company accountant.

Mr Woodthorpe even gave him a second chance after Chan began stealing cash and tried to cover his tracks by billing it as a salary loan.

But an audit conducted last year established that more money had gone missing, resulting in the defendant making a "full, frank and tearful" confession.

Chan, 41, of Manor Farm Road, Southampton, admitted fraud.

Jodie Mittell, mitigating, read a statement submitted to the court by Gamblers Anonymous, which described Chan as an "exemplary" member of the organisation who had missed only three meetings, either through illness or childcare commitments.

Ms Mittell described her client as a man of previous good character who was "plainly remorseful" for defrauding his employer.

"He was over and above when it came to co-operating with the police investigating. He made early admission and gave officers access to his accounts," she said.

Daily Echo:

Judge Nicholas Rowland said Mr Woodthorpe continued to put his trust in the defendant, even after it first emerged that Chan was helping himself.

Referring to the impact on what he described as a small company, the judge said Mr Woodthorpe "had to stump up his own money to keep it going".

Speaking after the case Mr Woodthorpe said Chan deserved his 28-month jail sentence, adding: "I was taken for a ride.

"We had one hiccup where he did something he shouldn't. I warned him abut it and told him not to let it happen again. But some years later he did exactly the same thing, only with a lot more money.

"I feel very sorry for his family, who are dedicated to honesty and integrity."