Gambling addict admits embezzlement
Published: Dec. 31, 2005 at 11:51 PM
EXETER, England, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- A British travel agency employee has admitted embezzling thousands of pounds to feed an online gambling habit she shared with her ex-boyfriend.
Cindy Streets was sentenced to 12 months in jail for the theft, the Times of London reported.
Streets admitted taking 26,100 pounds (almost $45,000) from the Exeter branch of Let's Go Travel, an agency owned by TV personality Phillip Schofield. She said she began taking money after maxing out her credit card and her then-boyfriend, who was unemployed, convinced her with every loss that the next block of cash she took would allow them to win enough to repay the agency.
Judge Graham Cottle had little sympathy.
"That did not happen," he said. "In the real world it does not happen. There was some attempt made to cover up your dishonesty, but it brought only temporary relief. I find the particular use to which the money was put an aggravating feature of this case."
Cindy Streets was sentenced to 12 months in jail for the theft, the Times of London reported.
Streets admitted taking 26,100 pounds (almost $45,000) from the Exeter branch of Let's Go Travel, an agency owned by TV personality Phillip Schofield. She said she began taking money after maxing out her credit card and her then-boyfriend, who was unemployed, convinced her with every loss that the next block of cash she took would allow them to win enough to repay the agency.
Judge Graham Cottle had little sympathy.
"That did not happen," he said. "In the real world it does not happen. There was some attempt made to cover up your dishonesty, but it brought only temporary relief. I find the particular use to which the money was put an aggravating feature of this case."
© 2005 United Press International. All Rights Reserved.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
» Next in Top News:
Shooting victim makes final phone call
U.S. President George W. Bush visits the Bible Lands Museum in Jerusalem on May 16, 2008. (UPI Photo/Amos Ben Gershom/Israeli Government Press Office)
U.S. President Bush visits Israel
Full Photo
| Slideshow
Latest Headlines
- GM reaches pact with union in Delta strike
- Calif. wine pioneer Mondavi dies
- Stroke outcome helped by clot-busting drug
- Study casts doubt on high-salt diet risk
- Huckabee jokes about Obama gunman
- Flights at N.Y.-area airports to be capped
- Strike closes five Norwegian airports
- Senator: McCain's military roots limit him
Most Popular