Betting scam netted £3,600
Thursday, 14th March 2002.
A betting shop clerk from Haverhill posed as a big-time gambler to win almost £4,000 by placing bets on dog races after they had started, a court heard.
Glen Mainland. 24, of Windsor Terrace, narrowly escaped a prison sentence where he appeared at Bury St Edmunds Crown Court.
He admitted three counts of theft from his employers, Coral Bookmakers, and asked for 17 similar offences to be taken into consideration.
Recorder Alan Steynor told Mainland the £3,604 he had stolen was enough for an immediate custodial sentence to be imposed.
However, he added that a recent Law Lords ruling in a similar case meant he would be made to carry out unpaid work for the public good and pay back his “winnings” instead.
The court heard Mainland posed as one of the Suffolk bookies’ regular big-time gamblers, known as “Ginger”. But staff at the Coral shop in Haverhill realised something was wrong and a team of investigators was sent in.
Mainland had placed bets in the name of a customer once races had started, even though Coral employees were forbidden from making bets at all. He was sentenced to 12 months supervision, to include rehabilitation classes and 80 hours community service. He must also pay back the money be stole and £176 costs.
Recorder Steynor said: “It was seriously dishonest conduct and subverted the whole point of gambling. A punter who places a bet once the dogs are out of the traps is in a much better position to win than someone who bets fairly. You were dishonestly helping yourself to money from your employer.”
Glen Mainland. 24, of Windsor Terrace, narrowly escaped a prison sentence where he appeared at Bury St Edmunds Crown Court.
He admitted three counts of theft from his employers, Coral Bookmakers, and asked for 17 similar offences to be taken into consideration.
Recorder Alan Steynor told Mainland the £3,604 he had stolen was enough for an immediate custodial sentence to be imposed.
However, he added that a recent Law Lords ruling in a similar case meant he would be made to carry out unpaid work for the public good and pay back his “winnings” instead.
The court heard Mainland posed as one of the Suffolk bookies’ regular big-time gamblers, known as “Ginger”. But staff at the Coral shop in Haverhill realised something was wrong and a team of investigators was sent in.
Mainland had placed bets in the name of a customer once races had started, even though Coral employees were forbidden from making bets at all. He was sentenced to 12 months supervision, to include rehabilitation classes and 80 hours community service. He must also pay back the money be stole and £176 costs.
Recorder Steynor said: “It was seriously dishonest conduct and subverted the whole point of gambling. A punter who places a bet once the dogs are out of the traps is in a much better position to win than someone who bets fairly. You were dishonestly helping yourself to money from your employer.”
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