A JOINERY firm boss stole almost £4,000 from his employers to fund his secret gambling addiction, a court heard.

Burnley Crown Court was told how David Smith, 37, pocketed cash handed over by customers and helped himself to more than £2,000 from the safe at Howdens Joinery Ltd in Accrington.

The defendant, then the deputy manager, was said to now have his addiction under control and had started a new job - but had not told his new bosses about his conviction.

Smith, of Fountains Way, Oswaldtwistle, admitted four theft charges. He was given 52 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, with 12 months supervision and 100 hours unpaid work. He must also pay £3,680.68 compensation to Howdens.

Sentencing, Judge Beverley Lunt told the defendant he should have gone and got help for his addiction and not stolen from his employers.

Jennifer Blewitt, prosecuting, told the court Smith stole £1,000 of £2,000 handed over to him by a customer. The customer later got letters from the joinery firm, over an outstanding balance and was threatened with legal action.

In April last year Smith took £2,100 from the firm's safe. Only he and the manager had access to the safe. In total he stole £3,680.68 from his bosses.

Mark Smith, defending, said Smith now had a £17,000-a-year position as a sales representative in Garstang. He would not be handling money. Smith got the job after putting his CV on the internet.

Mr Smith claimed Smith had taken "advantage of lax procedure" at the joinery firm and had breached his then employers' trust. The defendant's wife was supportive, but did not condone what he had done.

Mr Smith said: "He lost congenial and well-paid employment through his gambling addiction. That, it seems, is now under control. At least it is out in the open."

The barrister added Smith's offending had lacked sophistication and he had done very little to try and cover his tracks. He said: "He took advantage. It was wrong and he shouldn't have done it."

Speaking to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, Howdens Joinery Ltd, said the missing funds came to light during an internal audit held regularly by the company.

The firm's head of security John Elliot said their 'very robust procedures' first revealed the theft, followed by complaints from several customers.

Mr Elliot's department was asked to investigate the concerns. He said: "The company placed a great deal of trust in this employee and we were extremely disappointed when he abused that trust. However we are satisfied that justice has been done."