A car supermarket had more than £51,000 “skimmed” from its vehicle sales by a salesman who stole from the business in a bid to solve his financial problems.

Norwich Crown Court heard how Richard Childs, of Clacton, had been given a “second chance” by Stebbings car superstore – which has sites in King’s Lynn and Norwich – after he stole at least £17,000 from the business on a previous occasion.

Despite the company’s support Childs stole from them again, taking more than £51,000 between May 2013 and November 2015, the Eastern Daily Press reported.

Chris Youell, prosecuting, said that the 44-year-old had been trying to solve his financial issues by gambling but had made things worse.

He added that Childs had been “skimming” money off vehicle sales and covering it up by altering or amending documents.

The offences were discovered in November last year when money was missing relating to the sale of a vehicle.

Childs admitted his guilt straight away and pleaded guilty to charges of theft and false accounting made against him in court.

Judge Anthony Bate jailed Childs for a period of 18 months at a hearing last week.

Speaking after the case, Stebbings operations director Richard Brown told the Eastern Daily Press that the reason they went ahead with the case as they did not want him to go and work for someone else and “potentially put them out of business”.