A court gave a suspended sentence to a manager with Sean Graham bookmakers. This is for stealing thousands of pounds from his employer to fund a gambling addiction.
Daniel Cassidy admitted to stealing £9,500 from the bookmaker’s branch in Claudy, County Londonderry. It happened between September and December 2023.
The initial amount was £10,000. However, he had repaid £1,000, Londonderry Magistrates’ Court was told.
Cassidy, 30, of Ferguson Street, Derry, was sentenced to 11 months, suspended for three years and ordered to pay £5,000 in compensation.
Management initially noticed the missing money from the safe. The court learned that upon examining the rotas, they quickly realized Cassidy had been working at the time.
Cassidy hung up when they phoned him to ask about the missing cash.
More attempts to contact him by text were unsuccessful. Eventually, police went to Cassidy’s home and found betting dockets and bank transaction slips.
Cassidy made full admissions during police interviews.
Starting with small amounts that he intended to pay back with his winnings, he said that he had taken the money to fund his gambling addiction.
A defense barrister stated that Cassidy’s actions lacked sophistication and that he felt some relief when authorities discovered his crime.
He told the court that Cassidy was remorseful, was attending Gamblers’ Anonymous and had apologized to his former employers.
