who fleeced her boss out of more than £166,000 has narrowly avoided jail.

Debra Frost, 43, withdrew £166,507 from her employer, Peter O’Connor’s bank account over a period of two years to pay her family’s mortgage and bills because her husband was spending his salary on gambling.

Jay Frost, 43, of Highlands Crescent, Bowers Gifford, laundered £26,000 of the cash by converting it into foreign currency.

Judge David Owen-Jones told the couple he was persuaded not to jail the pair immediately because they have two young sons aged ten and 15.

He handed them suspended prison sentences, but warned them they had “avoided jail by whisker”.

Basildon Crown Court heard that Mrs Frost worked for Mr O’Connor as a personal assistant and had access to his bank accounts so she could organise foreign currency for him while he was on business trips.

In 2010, Mr O’Connor set up his own business and employed Mrs Frost part-time to take care of his finances.

Two years later he discovered the fraud and called Mrs Frost in to a meeting with his lawyer where she confessed to stealing more than £166,000.

In an unusual move, Judge Owen-Jones asked Mr Frost to take to the witness stand and explain to the court how he had spiralled in to gambling addiction.

The taxi-driver said: “I played roulette. It started five years ago and I gambled anything I could get my hands on.

“We sold the house to pay off debts and in total I have spent £300,000 on gambling.”

He managed to kick his habit by attending a gamblers’ support group.

Mr Frost was sentenced to nine months in jail, suspended for two years, while Mrs Frost was sentenced to 18 months suspended for two years.

Judge Owen Davies said: “It is sad to see people of your age in court for the first time in your lives aged 43.”

The pair admitted the charges at an earlier hearing.