Key Moments:
- John Toms, a NatWest branch manager, admitted to taking £344,410 from ATMs over eight years
- He received a two-year suspended prison sentence due to gambling addiction and illness
- Case underscores calls for stronger UK gambling regulations
Case Overview
A former manager at NatWest’s Moorgate branch in London, John Toms, has avoided a custodial sentence after pleading guilty to stealing £344,410 (equivalent to US$465,000) from ATMs at his workplace. Prosecutors detailed how Toms had exploited his management access from January 2016 through April 2024, conducting the thefts over an eight-year period without detection.
Fraudulent Scheme Details
Toms made cash withdrawals from the branch’s ATMs in the evenings, then arrived early the next morning to move funds between ATM registers and back-office cash to conceal shortages. Court documents state he also forged coworkers’ signatures to hide the discrepancies in the bank’s daily and quarterly reconciliations.
Prosecutor Alexander Matic told the court, “He would … come in early the next morning before others arrived, access the ATMs, take the precise amount he had taken the night before from the ATMs, and put them in the cash register.” Matic further emphasized that Toms’s gambling habit far exceeded his £47,000 annual salary.
Nat West manager who stole £344,000 from cash machine to fund his gambling habit is spared jail https://t.co/dDM9AC89Eo
— Daily Mail (@DailyMail) August 26, 2025
Legal Outcome and Motives
After two internal reviews by NatWest, Toms admitted to the theft, claiming he acted independently. The sentences handed down require Toms to serve two years in prison, suspended for two years, and include compulsory unpaid community service as well as participation in a rehabilitation program.
Judge Tony Baumgartner cited Toms’s addiction and recent cancer diagnosis as key factors in opting for a suspended sentence. Defense attorney Siddick Gokhool stated, “he is not only remorseful for what he has done, but also for NatWest and mainly for his family.”
Toms has made partial restitution, cashing in his pension to return around £100,000. However, NatWest is still missing almost £250,000 based on court records.
Regulatory Context
The case surfaces at a crucial moment for UK gambling policy. The government has recently introduced a white paper emphasizing stricter affordability assessments and additional protective measures for individuals at risk of gambling harm. Supporters argue that the Toms case underscores the importance of these regulatory changes.
| Individual | Role | Amount Stolen | Restitution Paid | Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Toms | Former NatWest Branch Manager | £344,410 | ~£100,000 | 2-year prison (suspended for 2 years), community service, rehabilitation |
- Author
Daniel Williams
