A man who stole ￡483,523 ($563,448) from his employer and used the money to pay off his gambling debts was sentenced to six years in prison on Tuesday. Lee Bird was working as a senior account manager for CDW UK when he began making false IT equipment orders in January 2020.

By the time a customer became aware of the fraud nearly two years later, Bird had made 30 orders for goods to be delivered to his personal address or associated addresses.

The Nottingham Crown Court heard how the defendant developed an online gambling addiction during the pandemic lockdowns after struggling with boredom and isolation. While his family thought he was working constantly, Bird was actually staying up for days gambling, which led to him going “mad.”

descended into drug addiction after his transgressions came to light

Bird said he descended into drug addiction after his transgressions came to light and became homeless. The 42-year-old is now trying to overcome his addictions and restore his relationships with family members.