Gambling Addiction

Gambling habit drove man to steal

GAMBLING addiction had driven retail supervisor Raymond Luvian-Wade to steal from his Toowoomba employer's cash till, the city's District Court heard yesterday.

Luvian-Wade, 57, had been employed by Downs Office Equipment as a retail area supervisor when one of his work colleagues in April last year found him with his wallet open at the cash register, prosecutor Shontelle Kenny told the court.

When another colleague noticed him doing the same thing a couple of days later, management was alerted and the store's surveillance camera video viewed.

Luvian-Wade had been found to have taken about $2138 over particular days of April and May last year, prompting management to conduct an audit of transactions dating back to January 2006.

That audit found he had taken more than $10,250 over that time making his total deception to $12,355.

The court heard gambling and depression had been behind the defendant's offending and he had since been attending ATODS (Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drugs Service) to receive help with his problems.

He pleaded guilty to stealing as a servant.

Judge Tony Rafter SC sentenced Luvian-Wade to two years jail, but suspended the term immediately on condition he not re-offend within the next two years.

Luvian-Wade was also ordered to pay full restitution of $12,355.83.