A former bakery manager is behind bars after he stole close to £5,000 from Greggs and lost nearly all of it on gambling machines.

Tristan Holtby-Smith, of Lavender Hill in Tonbridge, went on a gambling spree after thieving cash from Greggs in Tonbridge High Street on July 1.

The 34-year-old was an assistant manager and entered the premises before using a key to open the safe and take £4,790.

He then made his way to a nearby bookmakers and lost almost all the money on gambling machines.

In a last ditch effort to recoup his losses, and with less than £1,000 remaining, Holtby-Smith travelled to an arcade in Leicester Square the following day .

When the last of the cash was gone he returned to Tonbridge and handed himself in at the police station.

During police interview Holtby-Smith confessed to officers he had a ‘horrific’ gambling addiction.

He claimed it had been his intention to gamble the money and pay back what he had taken with the winnings.

He also admitted a further offence of failing to disclose information about previous convictions when he had applied for the job of assistant manager in April 2013.

He appeared at Maidstone Crown Court on September 25 and was jailed for a total of 15 months.

Holtby-Smith was sentenced to six months for theft and for dishonestly failing to disclose information to make a gain, having previously pleaded guilty to both offences.

A further nine months were added for breaching a suspended sentenced for theft in 2012.

PC Asa Buckland, who was in charge of the case, said: “Holtby-Smith had been short of cash and made the reckless decision to steal and gamble money which wasn’t his.

“He has severely abused the trust of his employer, not just by using a key to steal money, but by also trying to hide previous convictions.

"It’s pleasing that the court has recognised this and Holtby-Smith will now have plenty of time to reflect on his actions.”