A CARER "drained" the bank accounts of two vulnerable adults to feed his gambling habit and drug addiction, a court has heard.

Mark Tiller, of Chelsea Gardens in Bournemouth, left one of his victims with just £1.67 after withdrawing around £3,000 from his account.

The 40-year-old is now behind bars after a judge labelled his crimes a "betrayal" of both the men involved and their families.

The thefts came to light when standing orders were returned as unpaid for the victims, both of whom live in a care home for people with disabilities in Lowther Road.

Bank statements were checked, which showed cash had been taken from each of the accounts.

In one case, £3,000 was stolen over the course of six months.

Around £200 was stolen in four months from the second victim.

In an interview with police, Tiller admitted withdrawing the cash to pay off his gambling debts and buy food, alcohol and drugs.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of theft at Bournemouth Magistrates' Court earlier this year, and the case was sent to Bournemouth Crown Court for sentence on Friday, March 11.

Tom Evans, mitigating, said the defendant is seeking help for his addictions at Gamblers Anonymous UK, and has recently been issued with a methadone script.

Tiller had been CRB-checked prior to starting work at the care home.

Despite that, he has 11 convictions for 32 offences, including 13 thefts, five frauds and a robbery, prompting his own barrister to say it was "remarkable" that he had secured a job at the unit.

"It is testament to the work he had put in, which involved getting a level three diploma in health and social care and studying for a mental health awareness course," Mr Evans said.

"He has completely blown it and will never be able to work in this field again."

Judge Brian Forster QC said Tiller was a house monitor at the care home, occupying a "position of responsibility".

"You were able to obtain access to the accounts of the residents," he said.

"The offences of theft were committed against vulnerable people who were living at your accommodation. They were depending upon you, and of course their families and any persons connected with them were depending on you.

"You betrayed the trust everybody placed in you."

Tiller was jailed for 12 months for each of the offences, to be served concurrently.