AN insurance salesman gambled away cash he collected from policy holders, a judge at Bolton Crown Court was told.

Compulsive gambler Brian Hobin started off taking £20 for petrol from clients premiums - in his job with a Bolton company - intending to pay it back the following week, but it quickly escalated and soon he owed thousands of pounds.

The court heard that it became a vicious circle and he took more and more cash in the hope of winning a lot of money so he could pay back what he had taken.

Hobin, aged 30, worked as a manager for British Rail earning £24,000 a year which, at that time, was enough to fund his habit.

But when he was made redundant he took a job at the Royal London Mutual Assurance Society in July 1998, which has its administrative offices in Bolton.

Hobin of Somerset Road, Failsworth, Manchester, had previously admitted at Bolton Magistrates court two charges of false accounting and theft. He appeared at Bolton Crown Court for sentence.

The court heard that Hobin had offered to pay back all of the money owing before the police were informed.

Now Hobin had stopped gambling and was attending Gamblers' Anonymous.

Recorder Richard Brittain said what Hobin had done was "sinful old fashioned embezzlement."

He said because he had a supportive family, glowing references and an offer of a job from an employer who knew about the court case, he was prepared to suspend the nine-month jail sentence for two years.

He also ordered Hobin to repay the full amount to the insurance company and to pay £100 prosecution costs.