Gambling Addiction

Gambling addict stole while working at Manchester United food kiosk
Amy Glendinning


An online gambling addict stole £1,400 while working at a food kiosk at Manchester United’s Old Trafford ground.

Khayri Fazzani, 23, carried out the theft after falling into debt owing to his addiction to gambling.

Fazzani took the money from a food stall at the Premiership ground where he worked between August and November last year.

After pleading guilty to taking £100 on five separate occasions plus £900 at other times, he was sentenced to a 12-month community service order and 150 hours’ unpaid work by magistrates in Trafford.

But the bench ruled that he should not have to repay the money he stole because he was already in so much debt.

The court heard Fazzani – of Cundiff Road, Chorlton – owed more than £8,000 after becoming addicted to gambling websites.

He had stolen the cash to feed his habit and try to pay off his debts.

He also sought help from GamblersAnonymous, the court heard – but had failed to pay back any of the money he owed.

Speaking in court, Fazzani, who is now unemployed, said: “The only reason I did it was because the gambling got out of hand and it was the last thing I resorted to.

“I went to GamblersAnonymous a few times but the debt was worrying me more than the gambling.

“I was trying to get out of debt.” Sentencing Fazzani, magistrates ruled he would not be ordered to pay back the money he had stolen because of his ‘severe’ financial situation.

The court heard that although Fazzani had given a ‘full and frank’ admission of his thefts to police after being caught and was very remorseful, the thefts had been pre-meditated and carried out over a long period of time.

He was ordered by the magistrates to take part in a probation service programme to address his gambling addiction and to help him find work again, for 12 months