The Royal Court heard yesterday how Lee Nolan, 30, who earned £26,000 per year, paid for 17 of his friends to fly to Ibiza for only small repayment on their part.

He also paid for two friends to fly business class to New York with him, where they were photographed by a helicopter ride.

When police conducted a search of his rented home in the Vale they found other items conducive to high living, including an £11,000 hot tub that was still in its wrapping, two VW Golfs, a 55in. television and a £600 iPad.

Nolan was jailed after admitting fraudulently taking £542,555 from his employer, Castle Holdings Ltd, through 70 electronic transfers from seven accounts which the company managed. He also admitted entering into money-laundering arrangements with Dane Thomas Wicks, 25, and Mark Keith Setters, 22.

Wicks and Setters admitted charges of money laundering.