A single mum took more than 340,000 from the company she worked for in just 10 months while in the grip of a serious gambling addiction.

Grimsby Crown Court heard that accounts manager Leanne Gouldthorpe was losing an average of more than 1,000 a day betting, thought to be largely online, GrimsbyLive reports.

The court was told the money the 34-year-old fraudulently took was now "lost forever to the gambling companies", causing serious problems for the logistics firm in North East Lincolnshire.

She was jailed for two years and eight months despite a plea that she be given a suspended prison sentence.

Gouldthorpe was described in court as a devoted single parent to her eight-year-old son after her partner left while she was pregnant. She admitted fraud and false accounting while working for the company at its head office near Grimsby between February and December 2018.

She attempted to cover her tracks by falsifying records for VAT payments and the total amount taken was said to be 346,535.

Defending, Andrew Bailey said Gouldthorpe met someone who was a gambler and she became addicted.

"That's the reason behind this offending," said Mr Bailey. "She has lost everything because of her gambling addiction. She has lost all her life savings."

He said she initially borrowed cash from family members but lost their trust because of her gambling and turned to the firm's funds.

"She couldn't stop gambling," said Mr Bailey. "This is no less an addiction than an addiction to Class A drugs."

Gouldthorpe naively thought that she might be able to pay back the money, he said.

"She was, frankly, unaware of how much she had taken," said Mr Bailey. "She was in the genuine grip of this addiction. She couldn't stop. Gambling has ruined her life. She was unable to think about the consequences of her actions. She couldn't think about the consequences, which have been significant on the company she worked for. She is disgusted in herself."

The court heard Gouldthorpe, previously of Marsh Lane, Barton, had suffered with mental health problems and spent about three months in hospital. She was too ashamed to tell her family the full extent of what she had done.

Mr Bailey said she had acted out of character, had no previous convictions and was remorseful.

He added: "She did cooperate with the investigation and made early admissions. She has been determined to address her addiction to gambling. She offers her sincerest apologies to the victims. Given some time, she could raise the sum of 50,000 to go straight to the victim."

Mr Bailey asked for sentencing to be deferred so payments could be made but Judge John Thackray QC said: "Your offending has had a profound and long-lasting impact. Only appropriate punishment can be achieved by way of a custodial sentence."

GamCare offers free information, support and counselling for problem gamblers in the UK. It runs the National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133 and also offers face-to-face counselling. Visit http://www.gamcare.org.uk

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Single mum in grip of serious gambling addiction took 340,000 from company in 10 months - Wales Online