A GAMBLING addict used his company's money to wager almost £8million in just 18 months, a court heard.

Paul Mason won back around £5.8million but dipping into the funds of UTT Logistics/Technorth Ltd caused it serious cash flow problems.

The 32-year-old manager was jailed for three years on Monday after admitting stealing between £500,000 and £750,000.

Maidstone Crown Court heard that Mason was general manager of the UK end of the operation based at Highpoint Business Village, Henwood Industrial Estate, Ashford.

As general manager, he controlled the day-to-day running of the company, which has its head office in Holland, and procures goods for oil refineries around the world.

Oliver Saxby, prosecuting, said in March 2005 auditors found there had been duplicated payments. It was then discovered that suppliers were chasing payments.

Mason, of West Parade, Hythe, sent bosses an email admitting he had lost the company about £550,000. He apologised and offered to work without pay in the Sudan or Germany for a year.

Mr Saxby said between October 2004 and the summer of last year, Mason gambled £7.7million and won back "at least" £5.8 million.

"The amounts he repaid depended entirely on his gambling success," said the prosecutor.

Judge Michael Lawson, QC, told Mason: "I am afraid the sheer size of this and the duration of the offending is one that cannot allow for anything other than an immediate custodial sentence."