An Ipswich support worker with a gambling problem who borrowed money from two people in his care has been jailed.

Tanzir Talukdhar, 30, of Crescent Road, Ipswich, had initially denied two offences of fraud by abuse of his position as a support worker and one offence of attempting to commit fraud but changed his plea earlier this month on what would have been the first day of his trial.

The offences, which relate to him obtaining loans of £7,000 and £720 and attempting to obtain a loan of £650, took place between June 2014 and February last year.

Adjourning sentence at the earlier hearing, Recorder Richard Christie warned Talukdhar that he was likely to receive an immediate custodial sentence but said he wanted to obtain more information about him as he had no previous convictions.

This afternoon the judge jailed him for 18 months.

The court heard that Talukdhar was married with a young child and had a gambling problem.