Employee gambled away £23k from disability charity funds

A woman who stole thousands of pounds from a disability-friendly transport service to fund a gambling habit has been found guilty of theft.

Between April and November 2022, Hayley Smith made £20,665 in fraudulent payments to her own bank accounts and stole £2,370 in cash from Community Transport Furniture Blythe in Northumberland.

Smith’s legal representative told Newcastle Crown Court that she had a “long-standing” gambling habit. He explained that she had intended to repay the money with her winnings. But, he added, “of course that never happens”.

Position of trust

In an impact statement, Community Transport – which runs a fleet of wheelchair-accessible minibuses providing lifts for people who face mobility challenges — said the loss would have provided 298 days of transport for one user.

Judge Tim Gittins said Smith had exploited her role as a paid employee in the organistion’s charity shop and “effectively stole from vulnerable members of society” to fund her gambling.

Smith was sentenced to 27 months in prison, suspended for three years, and ordered to complete 175 hours of unpaid work. It has yet to be determined whether Smith is able to repay any of the money stolen.

Problem gamblers

According to the Gambling Commission, an estimated 1.3 million British adults were classed as problem gamblers last year.

The gambling regulator’s annual survey revealed little change from previous years, with almost half of Brits admitting to having gambled in the past month.

Around one in six respondents reported experiencing adverse consequences from their gambling, including relationship breakdown, suicidal thoughts, cutting spending on everyday items and missing work.