A senior finance manager at a local council is facing jail after he stole almost £1m of taxpayers money to fund his gambling addiction.

Over nearly 20 years, Alan Doig transferred £934,343.30 of money meant to pay for public services from Gedling Borough Council into his own bank accounts. Nottingham Crown Court heard how the 57-year-old, of Daybrook, Nottinghamshire, used the cash “to pay off debts he accrued” through gambling.

After pleading guilty to fraud by abuse of position and obtaining a money transfer by deception, he has now been told to expect a “substantial prison sentence” for his crimes.

Roger Wilson, his barrister, said: “It is a huge sum over a number of years and the sentence is inevitable, he knows that. There are a number of matters he would like to deal with (before he is sentenced). He is a man with no previous convictions as as My Lady knows this was down to a gambling addiction he had where he transferred money from his employer to his own bank account due to debts he had accrued over years.”

Dressed in a sky blue jumper, dark-coloured trousers and having brought a large holdall to court with him, Doig pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position and obtaining a money transfer by deception, reports NottinghamshireLive. Handing him conditional bail, Judge Nirmal Shant KC said: “Your sentence will take place on October 2, you need a little time to put your house in order and that is what you will get. You must not take me handing you bail as a sign you will not receive a substantial prison sentence, this is an act of mercy on my part.”

In a statement, Gedling Borough Council said: “A former council employee, Alan Doig, 57, of Bedale Road Daybrook, has pleaded guilty to Fraud by Abuse of Position and Obtaining a Money Transfer by Deception. He appeared at Nottingham Crown Court today (12 September) where he was released on bail ahead of his sentencing hearing on Wednesday 2 October.

“Gedling Borough Council has been working closely with Nottinghamshire Police to assist them with their investigation in any way we can. We are unable to comment any further while the court case is being heard but will be issuing a statement after the sentencing hearing on Wednesday 2 October.”