A 51-year-old Australian woman was convicted of stealing nearly $369,000 from the bank where she worked, allegedly feeding the funds into slot machines.

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Patricia Mary Douglas worked for Westpac Bank for 19 years rising to be a branch manager when she started stealing money from the safe and ATM's five years ago, authorities charged.

Her lawyer told a local court that Douglas developed a gambling addiction while suffering post-traumatic stress disorder in 2001, after she experienced two bank holdups during which a gun was held to her head.

All the money was lost playing slot machines, court documents allege.

Judge Patricia Wolfe, noting that Douglas had made no offer to repay the stolen money, sentenced Douglas to her six years in jail, which would be suspended after 18 months.