A TRUSTED manager who stole almost £10,000 from his firm walked free from court after a judge heard he has repaid the money.

John Walker, 31, used takings siphoned from the North Yorkshire engineering company to fund his secret gambling addiction.

His barrister told Teesside Crown Court he started taking small amounts and hoped a big win would allow him to pay it back.

Judge Les Spittle said it was a classic case of chasing the dream, and told Walker: "How you would achieve that, I don't know."

Walker worked for TA Services Ltd in Northallerton and effectively ran a division which provided coffee machines and products.

The court heard how he was in charge of telesales, wages, collections, invoices, accounts and the production of delivery notes.

Prosecutor Peter Sabiston said he opened an account similar to that of the business and transferred payments into it over 14 months.

"It caused tremendous disruption in the company because distrust did come from that with customers," Mr Sabiston told the court.

"It was when he was on holiday that it came to light. He was asked where the money had gone, and he could not answer.

"It was also discovered he had been paying himself travelling expenses. He was based in the office and didn't travel anywhere."

When Walker, of Oak House Yard, Emgate, Bedale, was arrested, he said he had a big gambling problem which escalated last year.

Company director Anthony Ross said in a statement that the betrayal caused "extreme stress" and cash-flow problems in the firm.

He had to use his own savings to support the business until the money was sorted out, and other workers' jobs were at risk.

Robin Frieze, mitigating, said Walker, who admitted the theft of £9,159, "deceived himself in the classic way" with his betting.

"He started taking small amounts, thinking he could put it right," said Mr Frieze. "He was never going to be able to manage it.

"He is a hard-working man with a good family, and was just too ashamed to come clean about it [his gambling addiction].

"The irony is, when it did come to a head, and he came clean about it, he has had huge support from his wife and extended family.

"Relatives have tallied around to lend him the money to pay it back at an early stage . . . he should have sought that help earlier.

"He has suffered a degree of local difficulty . . . essentially, he has been ostracised . . . he has shame and a breakdown of social ties."

Judge Spittle told Walker he had let a lot of people down, and added: "What has happened since is significant, in my view.

"If you out personal trust in somebody and it is thrown back in your face, it is very distressing indeed."

Walker was given an 18-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, with supervision, 100 hours' unpaid work and told to pay £200 costs.