A criminal prosecution has highlighted the dangers of agents not changing passwords when an employee leaves or is sacked.

Ryan Adams, 22, was sacked for under-performance after nearly a year working as an administrator on the property maintenance side of the business for agents Miller Metcalfe.

The company used specialist software to help administer clients’ accounts, but Bolton Crown Court heard that generic passwords were used to access it.

Adams, who had gambling debts, accessed the computer by using a former colleague’s password.

Between August and November last year, he stole £6,720 by transferring the cash to his bank accounts, using the names of fictitious contractors.

He obtained a further £4,000 by using a pseudonym and contracting out work.

The colleague, Kelly Tyler, noticed the discrepancies and told her bosses, but came under suspicion of having stolen the money herself.

Although cleared, she was ultimately sacked for not having taken care with paying contractors.

Adams was sentenced to six months in jail, with Judge Graeme Smith criticising him for having dragged the unwitting Miss Tyler into his crime.

The judge said: “Such suspicion was inevitable and has had significant consequences.”