A 44-year-old bus driver who deprived colleagues of their Christmas fund has been jailed by a crown court judge.

Steven Hamblett, who had a gambling addiction, used the cash to splash out on a variety of things.

Hamblett, of Green Street, Green Road, Dartford, who admitted theft, already had convictions for dishonesty when he stole £6,610 from the club at East Thames Buses.

Maidstone Crown Court heard that Hamblett was appointed branch secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union.

He then suggested the Christmas club be set up and about 30 drivers started paying into it.

Andrew Jones, prosecuting, said Hamblett opened an account in his own name for the money. It was to be returned to members at the end of the year with the interest going to charity.

But on November 20 last year, he failed to turn up for work and the club cash was discovered missing.

Hamblett disappeared for two weeks before walking into Gravesend police station to hand himself in. He admitted taking the money from the company based in Belvedere.

He said some of it went on a holiday to Spain, which he did not take, other trips, £800 of dental work and fuel for his car.

In November, he withdrew the last £2,500 from the account and travelled around the country on trains and buses, stayed in bed and breakfast accommodation and visited places he wanted to go to.

Mr Jones said Hamblett had previous convictions in 1984, 1985 and 1992 for deception.

Recorder Alex Milne said he had no alternative but to impose a 12-month prison sentence. It was to his credit, he said, that Hamblett had pleaded guilty and there was a long gap in his offending, but he had gone back to it, dipping into the fund repeatedly.

“These were mean thefts, stealing from colleagues,” he added “They placed their trust in you."

Recorder Milne made a nominal £1 compensation order, which would leave the door open to pay the full amount when he had the funds.