A SACKED employee hacked into a Bolton estate agent’s computers and stole more than £6,700.

Ryan Adams, aged 22, was jailed for six months at Bolton Crown Court after a judge heard how he used the cash to pay gambling debts.

Michael Brady, prosecuting, told the court how Adams, of Tintern Avenue, Whitefield, was employed as a maintenance administrator with estate agent and lettings agent Miller Metcalfe from August 2013.

But in July last year he was sacked for under performance and colleague Kelly Tyler took over the role.

The company uses specialist software to help administer clients’ accounts but the court heard that generic passwords were used to access it.

After a failed attempt to use another former colleague’s password, Adams managed to access the computer.

“He effectively hacked into the Miller Metcalfe account using Miss Tyler’s password,” said Mr Brady.

Between August and November last year he stole £6,720 by transferring the cash to his bank account using the names of fictitious contractors.

He also obtained a further £4,000 by using a pseudonym and sub-contracting out work.

The court heard that Miss Tyler noticed discrepancies with the account and informed her bosses but came under suspicion of having stolen the money herself. Although she was cleared after several months, she was ultimately sacked for not having taken more care with paying contractors.

Miss Tyler told the court about the devastating impact Adams’ crime has had on her.

“I hadn’t done anything wrong and I was dragged into the middle of this,” she said.

She had to wait four months before police cleared her, she suffered a flare up of endometriosis due to the stress and was unable to find work during the police investigation.

Adams, who has no previous convictions, represented himself in court and told the judge he had no intention of causing anyone else trouble when he took the cash to pay gambling debts.

“It was the only option I could see at the time,” he said.

Adams, who pleaded guilty to theft, apologised to Miss Tyler, told Judge Graeme Smith that he has now given up gambling, has found another job and plans to start a degree in business management in October.

Sentencing Adams to six months in jail, Judge Smith criticised him for implicating Miss Tyler.

“Such suspicion was inevitable and has had significant consequences,” he said.

Speaking after the case, Miss Tyler said she would have liked Adams to have been given a longer sentence.

“I would like to say I wish him well, but I don’t,” she said. "I classed him as a friend for a very long time.”