JAILED internet gambling addict Nicholas Cleasby has been forgiven by his mother after running up £30,000 worth of debt on his parents' credit cards.

Pat Cleasby, of Eastington, has also hit out at the online gaming industry for failing to warn gamblers of the risks involved.

"It's the same old story of people making money through other people's misery," she said.

Nicholas Cleasby, 30, was jailed for 18 months at Gloucestershire Crown Court last Tuesday (October 18).

Mrs Cleasby, 50, called for action to help those with similar problems.

"There should warnings on the screen and other helpful things like a maximum people could bet," she said.

Fearing the problem may only get worse however, she said: "The gaming enterprises on the internet are operated from outside the UK making them untouchable.

"Nick's counsellor said there are others like him, the situation is going to get worse.

"It's far too easy for people to get into debt."

Running up additional personal debts of £70,000, the former IT worker admitted in court to three offences of deception, three of theft, three of making false transfers and 23 of obtaining money transfers by deception.

Cleasby, who lived with his parents, also asked for 194 similar offences to be taken into consideration.

Although shocked to discover that her son, a former Maidenhill pupil, had been stealing from her, Mrs Cleasby has now forgiven him.

"He was never any trouble and was always very quiet. He used to like to read, watch TV and play on his computer. He was always quite content," she said.

"I'm not ashamed, it's like an illness. He needs someone close to stand by him now.

"I just hope others can learn from this."