Notice: Undefined index: ctime in /home/vhosts/casinotimes.co.uk/projects/shared/engine/DocFrontend.php on line 260 UK Casino Times - Store Manager Stole £35k To Feed Gambling Habit
Home » Casino » Store Manager Stole £35k To Feed Gambling Habit

Store Manager Stole £35k To Feed Gambling Habit

Last updated: 02/03/2008 14:55
Store Manager Stole £35k To Feed Gambling Habit





UK Casino Times > Casino News

02 July 2005

Store Manager Stole £35k To Feed Gambling Habit

A department store boss who stole £35,000 to gamble on roulette wheels escaped jail after a judge heard his crimes were fuelled by grief.

Andrew Gittings, 24, of The Drive, Bexley, sought solace in casinos after witnessing the death of a friend in a brutal attack.

Gittings, then a wedding gifts manager at Peter Jones in Chelsea, dipped into the till as his gambling addiction spiralled out of control.

But he walked free from Blackfriars Crown Court on Monday after a judge accepted his actions over 14 months were triggered by post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Sentencing Gittings to 15 months' imprisonment, suspended for two years, Judge David Martineau said: "These sums were stolen from Peter Jones when you were in a position of trust as manager of the wedding gift department.

"I take the view that this case passes by a long way what would normally be the custody threshold - but I have decided not to impose an immediate custodial sentence upon you. You have been exposed to something well out of the ordinary experience of young men of your age in that you have had the horrific experience of being in the company of a friend who, as a result of a criminal assault, lost his life and then had to give evidence in a subsequent criminal trial."

Mark Gadsden, prosecuting, told the court earlier: "The defendant realised the refunds system was open to abuse by him because, as a manager, he was the person who needed to sign off these items. So he organised refunds to his credit or debit cards."

In May last year, Gittings left Peter Jones for a job as a civilian worker at Bethnal Green police station.

But he carried on stealing from the department store.

Internal checks finally revealed the scam and he was arrested when he admitted what he had done.

The court was told Gittings started gambling in his mid-teens after his father was left disabled following an accident.

It became a "severe addiction" after witnessing his friend killed with a punch to the head during birthday celebrations in September 2000.

Gittings later gave evidence in the attacker's trial which resulted in a conviction for manslaughter.

Gittings had admitted 25 counts of theft between May 2003 and July last year.

The judge also ordered Gittings to pay £2,000 compensation to Peter Jones.


See Also
England are a long shot for Euro 2012
England are a long shot for Euro…

Fabio Capello’s side may have qualified with relative ease, but England…
Progressive Jackpots at EuroGrand have never been higher
Progressive Jackpots at EuroGrand…

Players looking for truly massive jackpots know that they don’t come bigger…
Casino of the month
Casino of the month

Joyland Casino in one of the hottest spots to play this month!Our team of…
William Hill Bingo give away £100,000
William Hill Bingo give away…

Play any of three incredible games to take advantage of this big cash give away…
Robbie Williams Launches His Own Online Poker Site
Robbie Williams Launches His Own…

Music icon Robbie Williams is opening his very own gaming site, simply called…
Seal and Heidi Have Split up
Seal and Heidi Have Split up

The celebrity couple have decided to call it a day after 7 years of marriage
Big Boom for Online Gaming in Australia
Big Boom for Online Gaming in…

It is estimated that Australians now spend up to $600 million each year on…
European Masters of Poker at its Climax
European Masters of Poker at its…

The final table is ready to do battle as the last nine players standing fight…
© 2005 - 2010 All right reserved CasinoTimes.co.uk