Fruit Machine scam revealed

A former William Hill bookmakers cashier has been handed a suspended sentence after crediting fruit machines to more than £37,000 to feed her boyfriend’s gambling addiction. Siobhan Donnelly, aged 20, of Reynolds Street, Latchford had been pressurised into crediting the machine everytime Michael Hornby, aged 24, of Winmarleigh street, Birchwood, lost.

The pair pleaded guilty to the charge of theft at Warrington Crown Court on Friday after investigators noticed 250 ‘phantom’ transactions between November, 12 2008 and February, 13 2009 all under Miss Donnelly’s name while she was working at the bookies and Mr Hornby was unemployed.

Peter Hussey, prosecuting, said: “She received no benefit, just loss in revenue to William Hill and gave the defendant (Mr Hornby) the facility to gamble.

“Mr Hornby acknowledged he was responsible putting Miss Donnelly in a position she would not otherwise have found herself in.”

Mr Hornby admitted he suffered a gambling addiction and that he had pressurised Miss Donnelly into crediting the machine.

Simon Berkson, defending Donnelly, said that she had severed all links with Mr Hornby and asked for her wages to be docked £1,100.

He added: “I doubt she is someone you will ever see in court again.”

Judge Nicholas Woodward said: “This was obviously something completely out of character as you are a hard working, honest person and when the offence came to light you admitted everything. You will have to live with the shame and that won’t be easy for you.”

She was handed a 12 month suspended sentence and ordered to complete 250 hours unpaid work in the community. Mr Hornby was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment.

Judge Woodward added: “The culpability rests with you, you used your position to pressurise and force her into co-operating with you.”