October 15, 2024 2 min read

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Gambling Addiction Pushes UK Senior to £115K Theft

In light of the theft, the 65-year-old great-grandmother recently received a two-year suspended prison sentence

Gambling addiction can push many into debt but out of desperation, some people may even engage in unlawful activities. In one such criminal case from the United Kingdom, a great-grandmother narrowly avoided time behind bars after stealing more than £100,000 ($130,800) from a charity.

Charity Treasurer Stole Thousands of Pounds

The case involved a 65-year-old woman from James Close, King’s Lynn, who was formerly employed as a treasurer of one of the largest independent archeological projects in Britain, the Sedgeford Historical and Archaeological Research Project (Sharp). An investigation uncovered that the woman, identified with the initials P.B., stole some £115,000 ($150,400) from the charity as she struggled with gambling addiction and financial difficulties. The theft was completed between June 2020 and January 2022.

The 65-year-old great-grandma admitted to her unlawful activities after contacting Norfolk police. The former treasurer at Sharp admitted to “borrowing” money from the charity amid financial struggles. The woman turned to gambling in an attempt to repay what she had stolen and pay for her mortgage.

P.B. was able to pay approximately £54,000 ($70,600), or around half of the sum back to the charity at the time when her unlawful actions were discovered. In light of the remaining £61,000 ($79,800) she stole, the 65-year-old woman was recently sentenced, local media outlets reported.

Gambling in a “Misguided Attempt to Deal with the Situation”

During the woman’s sentencing in Norwich Magistrates’ Court on Monday, recorder Ruth Brander acknowledged that the 65-year-old abused her position, and the trust placed in her while holding the role of treasurer at Sharp. Moreover, Brander deemed the woman’s gambling a “misguided attempt to deal with the situation,” BBC reports.

Brander also spoke about the impact the crime had on the 65-year-old woman, pointing out that some of her children distanced themselves. In light of the woman’s poor health, she was sentenced to two years imprisonment suspended for two years. Although she avoided prison, the woman was ordered to sell her property in order to repay the outstanding money she owed to the charity.

Although difficult to solve in some cases, financial crimes are often resolved. In the case of the 65-year-old woman, she admitted earlier this year to charges related to falsifying documents in order to conceal her theft. This is not uncommon as transactions can easily be uncovered which is why culprits often engage in document fraud in order to conceal their unlawful actions.

Journalist

Jerome is a welcome new addition to the Gambling News team, bringing years of journalistic experience within the iGaming sector. His interest in the industry begun after he graduated from college where he played in regular local poker tournaments which eventually lead to exposure towards the growing popularity of online poker and casino rooms. Jerome now puts all the knowledge he's accrued to fuel his passion for journalism, providing our team with the latest scoops online.

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