Gambling Addict Embezzles $150K

$150k stolen to feed pokies
MEAGAN DILLON

A TERRITORY manager pleaded guilty yesterday to stealing more than $150,000 from his employer to sustain his gambling addiction.

Christopher Carr Fletcher, 46, was sentenced to three years in jail with a non-parole period of 18 months.

Crown prosecutor Claire Henderson told the NT Supreme Court Fletcher was charged with stealing from food management company Sodexo where he was the senior project manager in Nhulunbuy.

She said he had been in charge of overseeing the company's operations at Gove House, Arnhem Village and Rio Tinto Alcan Refinery since December 2008.

Ms Henderson said Fletcher was responsible for banking the daily takings. But she said he had been pocketing the cash - $167,375 - between August and November last year.

His lawyer Chrissy McConnel told the court Fletcher had been stealing to "pay for his gambling habit".

She said most of the stolen money and his own salary - $115,000 a year - went straight into poker machines. "This shows some context into how much he was spending on gambling," Ms McConnel said.

She said Fletcher had his gambling "under control" until he moved to Nhulunbuy, which was more isolated.

Chief Justice Trevor Riley said during sentencing that Fletcher had a high degree of responsibility in the company and did not stop stealing until he was asked to explain the discrepancies. "It was inevitable that you were going to get caught," Justice Riley said, adding stealing money to sustain a gambling addiction was a "familiar story."

Chief Justice Riley did not order Fletcher to pay restitution but said Sodexo could get the money back through civil proceedings when he was released from jail.