AN insurance company worker who falsified claims totalling £79,000 and paid the money to himself to fund his online gambling addiction to roulette and Blackjack was jailed for two years.

Village cricket club captain Matthew Casey, 30, of Abbots Ley Road, Winchcombe, was working for Endsleigh Insurance in Shurdington, Glos, when he hit on the fraud and made 25 fabricated claims, Gloucester crown court was told.

The frauds began last October and went on till 2nd May this year when bosses became suspicious and launched an inquiry which led to four members of staff, including Casey, falling under suspicion.

The would-be professional footballer was suspended and so, briefly, was a colleague - but the next day Casey texted his bosses to take full responsibility for what he had done, said prosecutor Robert Reid.

He admitted he had used the passwords of colleagues to get around the company policy requiring two members of staff to raise and authorise payment of claims.

When interviewed by police he said he had a gambling problem and had been placing bets of as much as £5,000 a time.

"He indicated that the root of the fraud was his gambling addiction that seemed to have arisen after the diagnosis of an illness that had prevented his potential career as a footballer," said Robert Reid prosecuting.

Casey, who had no previous criminal convictions, pleaded guilty to defrauding Endsleigh of £79,170 between 4th Oct 2016 and 2nd May 2017.

Jailing him for two years, Judge Michael Cullum said "This was a modestly sophisticated system of fraud but it was doomed to failure in the long run."

Probation officer Jo Hall had told the judge that Casey's gambling was centred on online roulette and Blackjack.

He felt under pressure to continue in the hope of a big win because his partner was expecting he would pay the deposit for a house, she said.

Ms Hall said Casey felt relieved when he was arrested because his life had got out of control.

He now had work with a forestry company, she added.

Nick O'Brien, defending, said Casey suffers two permanent pulmonary embolisms (blood clots in the lung) and has to take Warfarin for the rest of his life.