Gambling hotel boss stole £350,000

A financial controller at a London hotel stole more than £350,000 from his employer as his gambling debts spiralled out of control.

Ian Kingswood, 35, dipped into the cash float at the Stafford Hotel in St James's, betting ever-larger sums in a desperate attempt to recoup his losses.

Kingswood, a father of two from Chatham, Kent, even re-mortgaged his family home for £75,000 as he tried to cover up the huge losses, Southwark crown court heard.

In January last year, gambling addict Kingswood confessed to his employers.

He was jailed for two years after he admitted stealing a total of £356,083.68 over four years.