A GAMBLING addict has been jailed for 16 months after his offending contributed to a Calderdale firm going into administration.

Bradford Crown Court heard that it was the second time Balraj Kaler’s gambling habit had caused financial difficulties, but this time three people had lost their jobs as a result.

Kaler, 34, of Marcus Way, Mount, Huddersfield, admitted various offences of fraud relating to his position as a credit controller with ACP Coatings.

He also took thousands of pounds from his own brother’s bank account.

Judge John Potter was told that the total sum involved over a four-month period between September last year and January 2012 was almost £63,000.

Prosecutor Duncan Ritchie said Kaler, who has a degree in business studies, had previously worked for another of his uncle’s firms and it was apparent that he had run up debts due to his gambling habit.

Mr Ritchie said Kaler had been diverting money from that company, but no action was taken against him and in fact family members paid for him to receive treatment at The Priory Rehabilitation clinic.

He spent five weeks at the clinic at an estimated cost of about £23,000 but after going back to the company he was eventually dismissed.

Mr Ritchie said by July 2010 Kaler’s uncle began to trust him again and got him a job at ACP Coatings in Sowerby Bridge but in October last year it was noticed that client payments were not appearing in the company accounts as expected.