Julian Kremer, aged 49, of Eggbuckland Road, Higher Compton in Plymouth, worked as a book keeper in Richard Worth Ltd and Richard Worth Residential Lettings Ltd, based in Wokingham.

On 31 January 2013, other employees realised they had not been paid and when Kremer was challenged he admitted to spending the company funds on online gaming.

He was sentenced at Reading Crown Court today to five years in prison after he plead guilty to one count of theft amounting to £1,981,916.

Recorder Mr M Heslop QC. acknowledged Kremer’s gambling addiction, but described the crime as bad as any he had seen. He said the professional, sophisticated and deliberate theft included offences of fraud, forgery and misrepresentation of the facts to cover up his actions.

Det Con James Deans from the Money Laundering Team based at Loddon Valley conducted the protracted investigation, which revealed that over a four and a half year period, Kremer had transferred money from five company accounts to his own, before using the money to fund online gaming and his lifestyle.

Det Con Deans said: “Kremer used his position of trust and friendship to conceal the offending from colleagues and friends of many years.

"Over and above the loss of funds, the business also suffered a loss of jobs and had to sell off part of their business to a competitor.

“I am pleased that he has been given a significant prison sentence and I hope that it will be of some comfort to the victims of his crime.” Detective Inspector Gavin Tyrrell, head of the Economic Crime Unit, said: “it has taken two years to bring this investigation to a conclusion and I thank the investigator and other professionals involved. “Fraud is never a victimless crime. It can leave lives, relationships and livelihoods in tatters. Thames Valley Police will always seek to protect and safeguard our communities whether residential or business.”