Online Gambler Stole To Fund Betting Sprees

An online gambler was arrested for allegedly stealing more than £1million from his bosses to fund betting sprees.

Bryan Benjafield, 23, was held on suspicion of siphoning off most of the cash in just five months.

Accounts administrator Benjafield, who earned less than £20,000 a year, allegedly exploited his position at construction firm Charminster to cash company cheques and transfer money directly into his Barclays current account.

He is said to have placed hundreds of bets using his Ladbrokes internet account. After wagering around £1.1million he is believed to have won around £75,000.

Now Charminster has been put in the hands of administrators - and wants to know why Barclays did not act after huge sums began flowing through Benjafield's account.

Benjafield, who had been with the Dorchester firm since it started in March 2003, had authority to cash cheques and transfer company money up to £2,500.

When he wanted more than the maximum he is believed to have just written another cheque.