A former IT worker has apologised to his victims in a Wellington court for using cancer as a means to get nearly $84,000.

Jim Greeks had a gambling habit and told friends and colleagues he needed the money for treatment.

In Lower Hutt District Court yesterday, he stood in the dock and said he was sorry for using a devastating disease like cancer.

His victims were cynical about the apology.

IT company LANtech sales and marketing director Rex Bullard said he felt like Greeks did exactly what he needed to minimise the sentence.

LANtech had advanced him $37,000 and workers had loaned him between $1000 and $5000.

Judge Peter Butler jailed Greeks, 50, for two years and three months on eight charges of dishonestly using documents to obtain money and obtaining funds by deception.

Judge Butler said Greeks had 22 previous convictions for similar offending from 1997 and 2002.

He had been jailed for nine months on those.

The judge said there was no reparation available from Greeks, although he had offered to pay it.

"I am not sure how you can with no money and no assets and way to get any," he said.

Two civil cases have already resulted in summary judgements against Greeks but he had no method of paying.

Judge Butler said it was a betrayal and it was doubtful some would ever forgive him.

His lawyer John-Wayne Howell said Greeks now acknowledged his gambling addiction and was getting help.

Outside court Bullard said Greeks' previous convictions had not been known to the company as they had been wiped under the Clean Slate Act.

Greeks said in court he still did want to pay the money back.

- © Fairfax NZ News