A YOUNG bank worker from Prestwich plundered the accounts of three foreign Manchester City footballers.

Over a period of three years Paul Sherwood (25), of Simister Green, together with fellow employee Paul Hanley (20), helped themselves to £323,000 while employed at the Co-operative Bank in Manchester City Centre.

Manchester magistrates heard that Sherwood was the main culprit. He stole £238,000 which he frittered away on gambling.

Prosecutor Alan Richardson described the thefts as sophisticated and well planned and targeted the accounts of players who were not at the club long and moved on to play abroad.

Sherwood admitted ten counts of theft and asked for 91 similar offences to be taken into consideration.

The court heard he and Hanley had fleeced the accounts of Vincent Vuoso, Djamel Belmadi and Daniel Van Buyten. The thefts continued even after the trio had left to join other clubs.

Hanley, of Whitworth Street, Manchester, a senior customer adviser at the bank, pleaded guilty to stealing a total of £70,740.

Also in the dock was Lewis Chadwick (21), also of Whitworth Street, who was a schoolboy pal of Hanley's. He admitted the theft of £14,000. Zac Smith (21), of Woodcock Grove, Glossop, pleaded guilty to stealing £460. He and Chadwick had allowed their accounts to be used to launder money.

Mr Richardson said Sherwood, a customer service assistant, had access to the bank's computer system and information about customer accounts. The players had been reimbursed by the bank who were considering civil court proceedings against the four defendants to recover the cash.

Sherwood and Hanley said they had acted independently of each other, a claim disputed by the prosecution. Mr Richardson said the men had targeted the same accounts and used the same methods involving the signing of counter debit slips to authorise withdrawals.

The offences eventually came to light after the bank carried out its own investigation and called in the police.

Hanley and Chadwick spent their ill-gotten gains on renting an executive city centre flat and leading an affluent lifestyle with holidays to the Dominican Republic and Mexico. Smith used his proceeds to clear debts and the court heard none of the defendants had previously been in trouble.

During the 20 minute hearing, the men only spoke to confirm their identities and enter guilty pleas.

They were all bailed to be sentenced at Manchester Crown Court on January 27.