A RELIEF manager at a Blackburn pub gambled away £3,500 of takings he should have banked, a court heard.

And the town's magistrates heard that after gambling away £800 he should have banked at the end of his first week, the following week Paul John Davison staked more than £2,700 taken from the till in attempt to recoup his losses.

Davison, 31, of Southport Road, Blackpool, pleaded guilty to stealing cash and two crates of WKD together worth £3,610 from the Farthings public house.

He was remanded on bail until January 30 for the preparation of pre-sentence reports with a warning that all options, including custody, would be open to the sentencing bench.

Claire Fanning, prosecuting, said the offence had been committed between August 30 and September 13 when the bar manager at the Farthings pub in Rosewood Avenue, Blackburn, took her annual leave.

Davison was appointed relief manager but when the full-time manager returned from her holiday he had left and the cash and stock discrepancies were discovered.

Robin Phoenix, defending, said Davison had received assistance with his gambling addiction in the past but it was still a problem. He said Davison had been offered the job by Phil McMahon who was fully aware of his gambling habit.

"He lost during the first week, as gamblers inevitably do, and then took more money to try and win back the money he had already lost," said Mr Phoenix.

"Before he knew it the whole thing had snowballed and he was £3,600 down. He has a problem but he is also a man of previous good character and I would suggest he is a man who needs help."