A post office clerk who stole £100,000 from his employer and blew most of it on Bet365 has avoided jail for a second time “by the skin of his teeth” so he can pay back the money.

Moshin Mallu, 28, of Rivington Avenue, Woodford Green, used the chip and pin machine at the Rush Green Road post office in Romford to debit his account with £95,400.

He then lost almost all of it on online gambling site Bet365, Snaresbrook Crown Court heard on Tuesday.

In December, he admitted fraud by false representation but was spared jail so he could pay back £10,000 by May 15 working as a delivery driver.

But the court heard he quit his job two months in after rowing with bosses – and paid back just £5,375 of the £10,000.

The fraudster came to court with an orange shopping bag packed ready for prison, but despite Judge Simon Wilkinson being “astonished” he had quit his job, he again spared him jail.

He said Mr Patel, who is having to pay back the money out of his own pocket, was his “first concern” and Mallu would have to find work to pay him back.

“You have avoided jail by the skin of your teeth,” he said.

Mallu began working at the post office in summer 2013 began crediting large sums to his account in October of that year, shortly after becoming manager.

He confessed to Mr Patel in February last year and handed back £21,900 – the only money he had left.

Despite breaking the conditions of his deferred sentence, Mallu was given a two-year suspended sentence.

He was placed under curfew at his home address between 9pm and 6am unless he finds a job during those hours.

He must pay back the remaining £70,000 £100 a month.