A SENIOR joinery company worker from Ulverston pinched £16,000 from his employer while plagued by a "crippling" gambling addiction, a court heard.

Details of debt-ridden Graham Wilcox's dishonesty at Howden's, during a period of several months, were outlined at Carlisle Crown Court.

Wilcox, 33, was sentenced on Friday having admitted one theft charge.

Francis McEntee, prosecuting, said Wilcox had been employed by the company "for some years".

He was assistant manager of its Kendal depot, although between November, 2015, and the following February, had stepped into the role of acting boss.

But when the regular manager returned to work he uncovered a discrepancy, and a company probe was launched.

That found Wilcox had used various different methods to steal.

Wilcox, initially suspended and then dismissed, estimated during an internal interview he stole "somewhere between £3,000 and £5,000".

"But the sum which had been indicated by the defendant reflected only a small part of the defendant's offending," said Mr McEntee.

The overall amount was £16,000, with the company having to fork out almost £8,000 more to settle outstanding invoices Wilcox falsely recording as having been paid.

Wilcox admitted to police he had been responsible for 65 dishonest transactions which were presented to him.

"He then set out some of his personal circumstances," said Mr McEntee, "and described really that he was in a considerable amount of debt, having £25,000 of unsecured debt at the time of his interview."

Lucy Wright, defending, said Wilcox was "deeply ashamed of the position he has put himself in", and "genuinely" sorry.

He had been suffering from a "crippling and completely unsustainable addiction to gambling".

Wilcox had since voluntarily sought help to address the problem, was following a debt management plan and had a new job.

If sent to custody, his supportive wife and children faced losing their home, the court heard.

Having considered submissions, Recorder John Corless suspended a 12-month jail term for two years, telling Wilcox this would be a "sword of Damocles that hangs over you".

In addition, Wilcox must complete 300 hours' unpaid work and was made subject to a compensation order.