UK manager stole GBP 461k to feed online gambling habit

Christopher Moses, the 26-year-old business manager of a UK recruitment company was jailed for over three years this week after stealing a total of GBP 461,000 from his employers to feed an online gambling habit.

Moses bet huge amounts on online casino and bookie websites, losing an average of GBP 20,000 a month, the Wolverhampton Crown court was told.

The young manager channelled money from his employer’s bank to four bank accounts set up in his name, disguising the theft as wager transactions. In all, Moses made 1,596 fraudulent transactions over a two-year period before his colleagues realised what he was doing.

In court this week, Moses admitted guilt and said that he was seeking professional help for his addiction to gambling.

A lawyer acting for Moses said: “This is all down to his gambling and to say it got out of control is a major underestimation. The figures involved are quite unbelievable. We are talking about a turnover measured in millions. He was taking GBP 150-a-week worth of cocaine to stay awake to gamble.”

Judge Amjad Nawaz jailed Moses for three years and four months, saying: “The message must go out that employees who act dishonestly when in a position of trust will be dealt with severely.”

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