A supermarket manager stole almost £81,000 to fund an expensive lifestyle involving the hire of male escorts, a court heard.

Neal Parton, said to have a "psychosexual" condition, also had joint mortgages with his then-partner on 11 properties.

The 47-year-old, of Arklow Square, Ramsgate, wept as he was jailed for 16 months after admitting stealing the cash while a deputy manager at Morrisons in Sheppey from February 2014 to July last year and then general manager of the supermarket at Larkfield until November last year.

Parton, described as a "motivator" to staff, had offered to pay back £66,000 of the amount stolen by dipping into a pension pot.

No order was made but a proceeds of crime hearing will be held to consider confiscation of his assets.

Judge Philip Statman said he had kept the sentence to a lower level because of Parton’s mental state and impressive references he had read.

But he added a statement from the supermarket’s investigator told of the effect of the stealing at a time "when many businesses in the community have difficulties associated with the current economic climate".

Maidstone Crown Court was told Parton,who joined Morrisons in 2005, obtained the large amount over several years by fiddling refunds, using seven different bank cards.

He admitted the thefts when interviewed as part of an internal investigation in November last year.

Prosecutor Sara Haroon said Parton would go to unmanned tills, enter the relevant security information and process refunds for sums of £389.99 or £489.99 under the home and leisure department.

"He said he didn’t go to work to commit the offences, he just did it while he was there," said Miss Haroon. "Most of the money obtained by him has been spent. He had £10,000 in his account.

"At the time of the offence he was funding a rather expensive lifestyle which included engaging male escorts.

"There is still a substantial amount owing on his mortgages. He also holds several credit cards and pays the minimum amount due every month."

Miss Haroon added that Parton had not repaid any of the £80,937 he stole.

Judge Statman said he accepted Parton had worked long hours and gone "over and above the call of duty".

"You were both liked and respected by staff and customers and you were seen by Morrisons to be a motivator among your staff," he said.

"As a result, you were working in a high position of trust. During these years your personal life was not with its difficulties.

"You have stolen a very considerable amount of money at a time when you had, prior to committing this, a comfortable lifestyle" - Judge Philip Statman

"I have read with care information concerning your psychosexual history. I have noted in particular the breakdown of your relationship, which had been long-standing."

Parton was having therapy and on anti-depressant medication.

The judge said of the offence: "High culpability is involved. There is a high degree of trust or responsibility. It clearly involved planning. It is not the most sophisticated of schemes.

"But the bottom line is you have stolen a very considerable amount of money at a time when you had, prior to committing this, a comfortable lifestyle.

"During the course of this crime there was use of money in order to heighten the lifestyle you were living.

"I take the view there is in my mind unhesitatingly a passing of the custody threshold. The only issue is how long you must go to prison for."

Judge Statman invited the licensing authorities to assist Parton with his mental health on release.

Bozzie Sheffi, for Parton, said there was £66,000 in his pension pot.

“The properties he owned were purchased when the banks couldn’t give enough money away,” she said. “They were interest only mortgages. Some are now in negative equity.”

He had suffered family bereavements and his 21-year relationship had ended.

Judge Statman commented that Parton’s “particular quality of life was high”.

Miss Sheffi said: “It is a way of life he is truly ashamed of. He said he found his behaviour disgusting.”

He had undergone psychiatric and psychosexual therapies.

“He had reached rock bottom when interviewed by the investigator and had to acknowledge his lifestyle was destructive, damaging and dishonest and would lead to one thing in his life, disaster - and it has done,” continued Miss Sheffi.

“He has worked all his life and been law-abiding. Good men make mistakes.”

Urging the judge to pass a suspended sentence, Miss Sheffi said if sent to jail Parton’s place in the queue for further sexual therapies would be lost and he would lose his employment.