An accounts employee stole more than £176,000 from the company she worked for - and spent large amounts on gambling, a court heard.

Purchase ledger administrator Joy Packham managed to divert the cash from J & E Hall International in Dartford into her own bank account for seven years before being discovered.

The 64-year-old grandmother started work at the industrial refrigeration company in Hawley Road, which has a £50 million turnover and 270 employees, on a temporary basis in 2001.

Maidstone Crown Court heard that from 2007, Packham, of Cavell Crescent, Temple Hill, Dartford, devised a scheme of changing suppliers’ bank account details to her own and transferring money into it.

“She ensured that emails were not sent to cover her tracks,” said prosecutor Martin Yale.

“She deleted the recipient’s email details from the system.”

The finance director became suspicious in March this year about a £12,000 invoice to a tool company. It transpired that an additional £5,000 had been added to the order.

When challenged, Packham claimed it was a mistake.

"Her gambling provided an escape from the every day difficulties of daily life..." - Alan Walmsley, defence

Mr Yale said further inquiries showed other sums had been added in a similar way.

A company was asked to place a similar order to see what happened and the same scam was used.

The judge, Recorder Deborah Charles, said: “So having been challenged, it goes on.”

Inquiries made with the IT department confirmed Packham had cancelled emails.

She was suspended from work, and at a disciplinary hearing she made full admissions and apologised for the “betrayal”.

After her arrest, she said the thieving started because her husband was in charge of the couple’s finances and she could not buy the things she liked.

She admitted she had a problem with gambling. She did not dispute the amount taken, but expressed surprise at the total.

The court heard the company had partial insurance covering about £116,000.

Packham, who admitted fraud, had signed over her pension of about £60,000.

Recorder Charles told her that a custodial sentence was appropriate but her age, remorse and good character “just persuaded” her that a 16-month sentence could be suspended for two years.

Packham will also have to complete 150 hours’ unpaid work and attend an activity course.

Alan Walmsley, defending, said Packham’s gambling had “provided an escape from the every day difficulties of daily life” and she was living in a bubble.

“She has taken steps to right any wrongs,” he added.

“With her pension gone, it will lead to greater difficulties.”