The manager of a Skipton bookies who stole more than £13,000 and frittered it away on online gambling has been spared an immediate jail sentence.

Steven Marren took around £2,000 a week over a six week period, partly because he did not like queuing at the bank to deposit the cash, Bradford Crown Court heard.

Marren, 27, of North Dean Road, Keighley, pleaded guilty to theft from his employer, William Hill Bookmakers, in Swadford Street, between May 1 and June 15 this year.

He was committed to the crown court for sentence by Skipton Magistrates Court and on Monday.

Marren was given six months’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, with 180 hours of unpaid work.

Judge Jonathan Rose labelled it “a repeated and determined breach of trust” and warned Marren he would be locked up if he breached the order.

“If you fail, we will meet again. If we meet again, you will go to prison,” he said.

The court was told that Marren stole £13,020 while he was duty manager at the Skipton bookies.

He was questioned by investigators at the firm on June 25 and suspended from his job.

He went on sick leave and was arrested on August 9.

Marren told the police he was struggling to cope at the Skipton branch and did not like queuing to bank the takings.

He lost all the money he stole on the Betfair gambling website.

Marren’s solicitor advocate Maria Temkow said he suffered from anxiety and depression.

He had studied computing at university but failed to complete the degree course and started to work for William Hill in 2008.

Marren achieved rapid promotion to management level but he was working 16 hours a day at the understaffed branch, Miss Temkow said.

He had not tried to blame anyone else at the bookies for the theft and was very remorseful.

“It is very much a mistake in this young man’s life,” Miss Temkow added.