AN internet gambler tried to kill himself after losing GBP158,000 in 50 minutes using his parents' credit cards.

In Scotland's worst case of internet gambling addiction to date, a court yesterday heard Richard Mahan, 25, admit 13 charges of fraudulently running up debts of more than GBP68,000 in online betting rooms.

Mahan used 13 different credit cards belonging to his father and mother to run up the debts early on April 3, 2005, on a home computer at Mahan's parents' mansion house.

He told Forfar Sheriff Court that he won GBP90,000 after just an hour of logging on to the internet. But his luck quickly changed and he found himself losing thousands of pounds.

He kept gambling in a desperate attempt to at least break even, but finally lost GBP158,000 after exhausting the limits on all 13 cards.

The case prompted calls for urgent action on what Mahan's solicitor described as "the scourge of the 21st century".

Sheriff Kevin Veal said internet gambling was a "social issue" that needed to be addressed. He said: "If GBP150,000 can be lost in 50 minutes under clandestine conditions in the early hours of the morning, it is an issue so great that it needs to be addressed by the wider community."

His stance was supported by GamCare, the leading charity which helps gamblers.

Geoffrey Godbold, GamCare chief executive, said: "The case shows the problem of online gambling . . . We are about to start a campaign to limit the amount of credit that people can gamble with. This will help stop this."

A spokesman for Gamblers Anonymous said 1per cent of people who gambled on a regular basis would become addicted. "As more people gamble on the internet, it will create a problem, " he added.

Mahan's father, James, 51, is director of Tryst Consultants, whose main interest is trading in oil. His wife, Linda, 52, is a director and company secretary.

The couple live in a mansion house called The Tryst, the biggest house in Trinity, a hamlet near Brechin, Angus. The home is also the registered office of their company.

Brian Bell, procurator-fiscal, told the court that the gambling happened in less than two hours.

Mr Bell said: "Initially, he'd made over GBP90,000 in profit, but within an hour, he continued gambling and started to lose money heavily until the credit cards ran dry and he ran up the debt. He then tried to commit suicide.

"The credit card companies contacted the father of the accused and they indicated that, unless the matter was reported to the police, the parents' insurance coverwould not come into place and they would have to pay back the money. The father then reported the matter to the police."

Mahan's solicitor, John Clancy, said the case highlighted the dangers of the lack of regulation of internet gambling. He said: "The court should be aware that internet gambling, along with alcohol and heroin, is the scourge of the 21st century because it is unregulated.

"It also raises questions about the wisdom of credit card companies allowing borrowing levels to be raised without any real checks."

Sheriff Veal deferred sentence until next month, but warned Mahan that he faced a jail term.