AN ASSISTANT manager who gambled away more than £500,000 of the Post Office's money has been jailed for three years at Maidstone Crown Court.

Judge Keith Simpson expressed disbelief that Dean Williams was able to get away with stealing from the safe for over two years before it was discovered.

"The Post Office seems as though it has been extremely slack if they can lose half a million pounds and not discover it for 26 months," said the judge. "They seem to be losing money as rapidly as they are losing letters these days."

The court heard that Williams's mother was terminally ill with cancer when he tried to escape from his troubles by gambling heavily with his employer's cash.

The 34-year-old married father had worked at the Sevenoaks branch for over 17 years when he started regularly taking £2-3,000 a week.

Anthony Lenaghan, prosecuting, said the thefts were not discovered until Samantha Sacco took over a branch manager in April and found there was a £66,000 shortfall.

Williams at first tried to lie his way out of the situation but then admitted he had been taking money to feed his gambling habit.

He said he was depressed because his mother, who later died, was seriously ill. "By gambling, I felt I could get away from everything," he said. "It might sound ridiculous, but it did take my mind off everything."

Williams said he "borrowed" money from the safe. The highest amount he took was £3-4,000. He falsified accounting figures to cover his trail.

"If you are a gambler, you always think you can pay it back," he said. "When you pay it back you probably lose it again within two or three weeks."

Mr Lenaghan said Williams, of Bradbourne Road, Sevenoaks, estimated he had stolen over £500,000 and was right. The total figure was £516,439.

Terence Woods, defending, said Williams had been trying to look after his mother, who had declined outside assistance. He lost his mother and his marriage was put under great strain.

"It was only against that backdrop that his gambling increased," said Mr Woods. "He saw it as a form of escape. His addiction got more and more out of control.

"Everyone thinks they are only one win away from turning it around and paying off debts. Of course, it was never likely to happen."

Mr Woods said Corals betting shop was only a few yards away from the post office and staff there must have known his gambling was getting out of control. As well as racing, he bet on other sporting events and would also use the internet to make wagers.

He had since attended Gamblers Anonymous. The father of a two-year-old boy, his family were standing by him, added Mr Woods.

Judge Simpson told Williams, who admitted theft: "I will kept it short. You want to know how long. It is a very sad day to pass a sentence on someone of good character, an upstanding member of the community.

"You addiction was your downfall. I hope that in custody you will get assistance for your gambling. That is the root of the whole thing. You were in a position of trust."

The judge said of Miss Sacco: "She was a good sleuth, it seems."