A SUBWAY employee who gambled away the company’s money in a desperate attempt to repay stolen funds will be sentenced next month.

Jamie Cox, of Milburn Close in Westbourne, dug a hole of debt after first stealing around £900 following an argument with his wife.

The former assistant manager of the sandwich shop’s branch in Poole Road then gambled approximately £1,300 more trying to recover the sum he had originally taken.

Prosecuting, Nicola Reece said: “In the early hours of Monday, February 17, the defendant had argued with his wife, and as a result started drinking.

“He went to his place of work, Subway, and used his key to enter and take between £800 and £900. He then went to a casino in the town centre, where he gambled between £100 and £200 of it away.

“Over the next 11 days, he borrowed money from a friend and attempted to balance the books. But when he couldn’t borrow enough, he started to take more money from the safe.”

On February 28, the 24-year-old went to Ladbrokes with a further £1,300 and gambled it in an attempt to make enough money to repay Subway.

Ms Reece said: “He simply incurred more losses for his employers.”

On March 1, Cox’s manager called the police to report that around £1,970 had gone missing, and the defendant was then arrested.

Cox admitted theft by employee at Bournemouth Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

Mark Proctor, mitigating, said the thefts were “fuelled by alcohol”.

He said: “Mr Cox made a stupid decision and then it snowballed as he desperately tried to recoup the money.”

Cox will be sentenced at the court on April 11.