A POST Office employee threw away a promising career when his gambling addiction led him to embezzle £134,000.

Daryl Louden, 26, Edinburgh, had been in line for an area manager’s job when he committed the offence at a Post Office branch within RS McColl’s newsagent in the city’s Ferry Road between January and September last year.

He admitted embezzlement at Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday.

The court heard Louden had contacted a senior colleague, David Richardson, for extra training to help gain the career move.

But Mr Richardson became suspicious when he suddenly called off the request in a text message, with Louden saying he wanted to stay in his current post.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard that, curious, the colleague carried out a spot check which confirmed more than £134,000 was missing from the Post Office.

Confronted on where the money was, Louden replied: “I will pay it back.”

Mr Richardson demanded Louden attend at the office and Louden told him he had a gambling addiction which had ruined a relationship and his life.

The two men went to Drylaw Police Station where Louden admitted he had been embezzling the money since April last year, spending it on online gambling.

Jennifer McEvinney, defending, said Louden had online accounts with three betting companies, gambling on football and horse racing.

Sheriff Frank Crowe deferred sentence on Louden, adding: “You must appreciate this was a very serious breach of trust”.

He was released on bail.