A 33-year-old gambling addict from Kent who stole nearly £1million from his employers has failed to have his jail term cut.

Paul Mason, 33, had challenged his three-year sentence on the claim that the crown court judge had failed to take full account of his addiction.

But the Appeal Court rejected this, saying the term was "proportionate".

Mason, of West Parade, Hythe, had stolen from UTT Logistics/Technorth’s Ashford office.

Over 18 months between June, 2005, and December, 2006, he got through £7.7million at betting shops, wagering up to £10,000 at a time.

He was dubbed Scorecast Man as he would go into betting shops with bags of cash for his high-stake wagers on football matches.

Mason had a well-paid job as general manager at his company’s UK division but stole £941,219.54 from its accounts, the Appeal Court heard. He has since paid back more than £500,000.

He had been jailed on December 3 at Maidstone Crown Court, which had heard that the theft from his company caused it serious cash flow problems.

Mason admitted the charges and had confessed to his employers, offering to work abroad for free for a year.