Another Gambling Victim

State sponsored gambling is designed to create addicts. When 90% of revenues come from 10% of patrons, a figure the predatory industry never disputes, addiction is defined.

The common pattern of prosecutions is of previously law-abiding citizens who are victims of a flawed public policy that relies on a "Something for Nothing Scheme' to provide revenue at great public expense.

When will we learn?

Banking adviser from Rhyl 'stole to gamble'

A personal banking adviser was guilty of a "gross breach of trust" stealing thousands of pounds from customers' accounts.

David Collins, of Rhyl, Denbighshire, used the cash to feed his gambling addiction, Mold Crown Court was told.

One 93-year-old client lost £50,000, while several other elderly people were also victims.

Collins, 20, admitted eight charges of fraud and theft, and was sentenced to 21 months youth custody.

He asked for 11 further offences to be taken into consideration.

The court was told Collins had even stolen thousands of pounds from his own father's investments without him knowing.

You also stooped as low to commit crime against your own father

The judge, Mr Recorder Nic Parry
His employer, Abbey National bank, has refunded all customers and has stood the total loss of Collins' fraud against the bank, said to be £86,000.

The judge, Mr Recorder Nic Parry, said Collins was guilty of a breach of trust and had gone to some lengths to conceal his dishonesty.

"You abused the trust of your employer, but far more seriously you abused the trust of ordinary people, who no doubt had worked hard to save their monies," he said.

"You also stooped as low to commit crime against your own father."

He said several victims were elderly and had looked to Collins for guidance.

The defendant, in his position as an adviser, was able to sell and submit applications for accounts and credit cards, and process transactions by computer.

Position of trust

The court heard how Collins forged his father's signature and asked for a £11,255 withdrawal, followed by a second sum of £7,500, which was paid into an account he had opened.

Collins also transferred a total of £50,000 from the account of a 93-year-old customer, using the details of a colleague at the bank to make one of the transfers.

Prosecutor David Mainstone said that while the total loss to the bank had been £86,000, it was alleged Collins' total criminal benefit had been in the region of £126,000.

This was disputed by the defence and a financial hearing will be held next month.

Tony Rose, defending, said that his client appreciated that he had been in a high position of trust.

He took from accounts, intending to pay the money back, to fund what developed into a gambling addiction.

"He ended up robbing Peter to pay Paul and it got completely out of control," said Mr Rose.