AN INTERNET-gambling addict who swindled more than £120,000 from an energy company has been jailed for two years.

Mark Dougill was a team manager for E.ON and had access to the details of thousands of the company's clients.

But after becoming addicted to internet casinos he engineered a money-making scam ordering refund cheques for E.ON customers, but sending them to six of his friends instead.

Dougill, 36, of Frinton Road, Bolton, was sentenced at Bolton Crown Court after pleading guilty to conspiracy to steal, false accounting, conspiracy to commit money laundering offences and theft between October 2005 and December 2006.

His friends were also convicted of conspiracy to defraud E.ON and money laundering.

Det Con Richard Armstrong said: "Dougill breached the trust of his employers just so he could plug the holes left in his bank account by his addiction to gambling.

"His friends were motivated by greed and the chance to make easy money.

"The company's now out of pocket because of greed and because of the consequences of Dougill's gambling habit.

"This is not a victimless crime. At a time when people are concerned about the rising costs of energy bills, the money lost by this company may have consequences for customers.

"The judge commented that the case was a mire of deceit and dishonesty.

"I hope that the sentences of the court send out a clear message to other fraudsters that this type of crime will not be tolerated and that we will catch up with them."

Dougill had worked for E.ON in Lostock, for 20 years.

The firm discovered what he was doing in May last year and called in police.

Christopher Paul Worrall, 40, of Burnley Road, Weir, Bacup, was sentenced to 12 months in prison for his part in the scam.

Michael Jason Burke, 36, of Manchester Road West, Little Hulton, was sentenced to six months suspended for 12 months and ordered to do 200 hours unpaid work.

Anthony David Foreman, 36, of Hopefield Drive, Walkden, was sentenced to 12 months in prison.

Jason Lee Banks, 37, of Elsie Street, Farnworth, failed to attend and will be sentenced at a later date.

Dennis Hunt, 49, of Ridyard Street, Little Hulton, was sentenced to three months suspended for 12 months and ordered to do 100 hours unpaid work.

Andrew Scott Hayes, 36, of Buttermere Road, Farnworth, was sentenced to 10 months suspended for 12 months and ordered to do 300 hours unpaid work.

Geoffrey Kenneth Johnson, 33, of Brackley Street, Walkden, was sentenced to three months suspended for 12 months and ordered to do 100 hours unpaid work.