Benefit worker's gambling habits ends in court (From The Northern Echo)

Benefit worker's gambling habits ends in court

11:11pm Friday 4th July 2008 in

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A BENEFIT agency worker who took out over £20,000 in loans in his fiancée's name to fund his gambling addiction has been spared jail.

Mark Smith signed his fiancee Joanne Heskett's signature on loan applications as he sunk into £40,000 of debt.

The couple, who both worked for the benefits agency and had been together for four years, split after Miss Heskett asked Smith to buy a wedding ring and the deception came to light.

Smith pleaded guilty to obtaining money transfer by deception and fraud by obtaining a loan last month and appeared for sentence at Newcastle Crown Court today.

"He fully accepts what he has done. He feels dreadful about it."

Lorraine Mustard, defending

Neil Pallister, prosecuting, said: "They were planning to buy a property, get married and settle down.

"Finances were obviously tight.

"Unbeknown to her the defendant had a severe gambling addiction.

"It got to the stage where he couldn't pay his way.

"To cover his losses he attempted to take a loan out with the Nationwide Building Society."

Mr Pallister told the court that Smith was refused but was told he could get a joint loan for £7,000, which he applied to do in October 2006.

Mr Pallister said: "When the paperwork came through he forged her signature."

The court heard that Smith repeated his fraud in June 2007 by taking out a £15,000 loan with the Alliance and Leicester.

Mr Pallister said: "On September 30 matters came to a head when she wanted to go shopping for a wedding ring.

"He was reluctant to go and left the house.

"He returned a short while later, with his father, and that's when she became aware of the terrible debt he had got into."

The pair split and later when clearing through Smith's belongings she found paperwork for the loans.

She reported the fraud to the police and Smith was arrested.

Lorraine Mustard, defending, said: "He fully accepts what he has done. He feels dreadful about it."

The court heard that all the money had been paid back by Smith's parents and that he had retained his job at the benefits agency.

The Judge, Recorder James Goss, prosecuting, said: "You were obtaining these sums of money to fund an addiction to gambling.

"Since the offending came to light you have made real efforts to repay the sums that you have dishonestly obtained."

Smith, of Keswick Road, South Moor, Stanley, was given a 12 month community order with supervision requirements and will be electronically tagged and subject to a curfew for four months.