A book-keeper who admitted stealing more than $200,000 from her employer to help fund her gambling addiction was jailed this morning.

Devore Brangman, 54, pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing $157,755.67 from Bermuda Oral Surgery Centre over a four-year period, and asked for the court to take into account a further theft of $78,025.21 from the same business.

The court heard that between 2007 and 2011, Brangman repeatedly transferred money from the business’ account to her own — including more that $70,000 during a series of vacations to Las Vegas.

The thefts came to light after the company hired a forensic accountant to discover why the business was failing.

Delivering his sentence, Puisne Judge Carlisle Greaves said Brangman had caused the complainants pain, despair and financial hardship, saying that she relentlessly abused the trust placed in her.

While Mr Justice Greaves acknowledged her guilty plea, given on the morning the trial was scheduled to begin, but expressed doubt about how contrite she truly was.

In all the circumstances, he sentenced Brangman to a period of four years in prison.

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