A FORMER Post Officer worker yesterday admitted pocketing £1,420 of customers’ money to fund his gambling addiction.

Richard Horsfield-Frost, 22, of Notley Road, Braintree, was a counter assistant at Marks Tey Post Office when he took the cash last year.

He collected money from eight people for their road tax discs, but never passed the money to the DVLA.

Horsfield-Frost, who now works at a high street bank, admitted at Colchester Magistrates’ Court a charge of fraud by abuse of position.

The court heard the DVLA contacted the eight people, saying they had not paid for their tax discs.

When each could prove they had handed over the cash, the Post Office investigated.

Horsfield-Frost was the only person, aside from the manager, who could issue the discs and he used his own system log-in for the transactions.

The offence happened between August 29 and September 15, 2013.

Horsfield-Frost’s solicitor, Ms Maidment, told the court Horsfield- Frost had been battling gambling addiction since he was 18, and took the cash to fund his habit.

Ms Maidment said the offence “didn’t take place over a long period of time.

“This was three days over two weeks. It was far from sophisticated.”

She told the court Horsfield- Frost’s new job was at risk due to the conviction.

She said said: “It’s a job he loves and he’s doing really well.

“The consequences of this are absolutely devastating.

Horsfield-Frost has attended Gamblers Anonymous meetings and now had better control of his addiction.

He now only gambles about £20 a week, but is trying to stop.

Horsfield-Frost will have to do 180 hours of unpaid work and pay £145 in costs and victim surcharge.

He was also ordered to repay the money to the Post Office.