A gambling addict stole almost £19,000 from her mum and grandad to fund her online bingo habit, a court heard. Kerry Robinson, 35, spent up to £1,000 a day on the game, LancsLive reports.
But after her own savings ran out and and she progressed to gambling on virtual slot machines, she resorted to pilfering from her family's bank accounts. After being was caught, the mum-of-two described her actions as 'the lowest of the low'.
Read more:
Preston Crown Court heard Robinson, of Welbrow Drive, Longrdieg, Lancs was tasked with taking care of her grandad's finances after his wife, her grandma, died in 2019. However in March 2022, he received a call from the housing association, saying his rent was in arrears.
Robinson attended a meeting with the housing association to discuss the situation, along with her mum and grandad. At the meeting she confessed she had been taking money from both their accounts as she had developed an addiction to online gambling.
David Clarke, prosecuting, told the court Robinson took £13,430 from a NatWest account registered to her grandad and £5,460 from a Lloyd's account in her mother's name. The police were informed at Robinson was interviewed under caution.
"She was very frank about what had been going on", Mr Clarke said. "She explained what had been part of the problem emotionally, in the background, which was the loss of her grandmother in 2019. Her marriage had been in difficulty, particularly during lockdown, and she turned to gambling.
"At first she thought it was something she could control, playing bingo and online slots, but after a time it became out of control."
Mr Clarke said Robinson had downloaded her grandad's banking app with his permission, but had channeled money into her own account when her funds ran dry. "She said in her own view her behaviour was the lowest of the low and she had hurt the ones she loved the most", he added.
Since the events have come to light, Robinson has managed to overcome her addiction and started paying back her family at a rate of £100 a week. She pleaded guilty to two counts of theft, from NatWest and Lloyds banks.
Both banks have reimbursed Robinson's family members but have accrued their own costs in investigating matters. The court heard Robinson has a previous conviction for theft after stealing £2,000 from an employer eight years ago.
James Heyworth, defending, said his client felt "remorse, shame and disappointment with herself". Robinson's family, including her mum and grandad, sat in the public gallery as she sobbed in the dock. None of them made formal police statements and they were in court to support her, Mr Heyworth said.
Since the discovery, Robinson has suffered a number of health difficulties and has stayed free from online gambling for more than 12 months.
Recorder Carwyn Cox, sentencing, said: "There was a high degree of trust placed in you, given that you were looking after your grandfather's finances at the time. I am satisfied you are truly remorseful for what has taken place."
He said he considered Robinson to be a low risk to the wider community and that appropriate punishment could come in the form of a suspended sentence. He handed down eight months, suspended for 18 months with 25 days rehabilitation activity requirement and a 16 week curfew from 7pm to 7am.
She must also pay £250 compensation to NatWest and £250 compensation to Lloyds.
READ NEXT:
- 'We were living the dream in Turkey when the unthinkable happened - now we're stuck in a nightmare'
- Man, 27, who had 'never been sick' given three weeks to live after noticing 'purple spots' on his chest
- 'I was worried my boys would grow up without a father - I had to make a change'
- 28-stone Marmite-on-toast 'addict' now couldn't look any more different after terminal diagnosis
- 'It's not a bad area, but it's very rough and very dangerous': The Manchester suburb where people are struggling to live
