Berkshire resident Chris Best, 39 years of age, was brought to court and found guilty of abusing “his position of trust” after it was discovered he stole as much as £12,000 from a lady in her 80s, who was placed under the offender’s care. A problem gambler, Best took advantage of his responsible position and repeatedly used the elderly lady’s debit card to withdraw money from an ATM in order to fund his gambling addiction.
The culprit’s scheme lasted for about a year and a half. He was finally caught after his victim was investigated for failing to pay her rent. Following the discovery of his theft, the gambling addict was brought to court in Reading, Berkshire, and was found guilty by judge John Price. The judge spoke in reproof of Best and reprimanded him for abusing the elderly woman’s trust by repeatedly stealing money from her, which he later used to fuel his compulsive gambling.
Judge Price commented that if the senior citizen had not fallen behind with her rent, the offender’s theft would not have been discovered. The judge went on to explain that it was not clear whether or not the systematic thefts of Best have caused the victim to fall behind with her home’s rent. However, the elderly lady insisted that she herself was confident that was the case, which significantly enhanced the negative impact the offender’s crime had on her.
Best Faces 18 Months in Prison
Judge Price denounced the offender for abusing his victim’s trust and taking advantage of his position. Best had previously shown good character and had even contacted Gamblers Anonymous in an attempt to overcome his gambling addiction. Judge Price considered the offender’s eagerness to deal with his pathological gambling an extenuating circumstance, which influenced his verdict. In addition, the offender had contacted various mental institutions to help him battle his anxiety and depression.
The 39-year-old problem gambler now faces 18 months in prison for his deeds. The defendant’s lawyer, James McCrindell, explained that his client has already taken steps to deal with his problem. The lawyer went on to say that Best’s poor mental health is by no means an excuse for his actions and should be viewed more as a prerequisite for his crime. McCrindell told the court that Best started developing a gambling problem shortly after the passing of his grandmother, following her cancer diagnosis.
McCrindell continued by explaining that his client is bent on changing his ways and is now attending the Gamblers Anonymous meetings each week. In the words of his lawyer, Best has not been involved in any gambling-related activities for over nine months. Before he was removed from the courtroom, the offender broke into tears and apologised for his actions.
Compulsive Gambling is on the Rise in the Country
Best is one of hundreds of thousands UK citizens who suffer from a gambling problem. According to a report, released by the UK Gambling Commission, pathological gambling is on the rise in the country as the number of people with this issue has increased to reach 430,000 in 2017. Over a million and a half citizens are put at risk of developing one such problem.
This unsettling trend has brought about heavy criticism of the country’s government, especially on behalf of the Labour Party. The latter demands the enforcement of stricter regulations of the gambling industry in Great Britain. Members of the Labour Party went as far as to insist on a virtual gambling crackdown as a means to fight the growing gambling addiction problem. It was also suggested that the government should enforce fees on the UK gambling operators and use the extra funds for the treatment of pathological gamblers.
- Author
Daniel Williams
