Published: Tuesday, 18th November, 2008 09:30
Dumbarton pub boss' £4k shame
Print Article
The Counting House in High Street, Dumbarton
A GAMBLING-hooked manager at a busy Dumbarton pub stole the takings to try and pay off his debts.
Stephen Wallace took nearly £4,000 from The Counting House in one weekend as his out-of-control habit caught up with him.
The 31-year-old has had to rely on his mum and dad to pay back the stolen cash, Dumbarton Sheriff Court heard.
In a desperate bid to settle debts from a string of bad bets placed over a number of years, Wallace went for broke, took the cash and did a runner, Maggie Porter, fiscal depute explained. The court heard that Wallace fled the country with the money, before coming to his senses, returning and handing himself in.
The desperate bar manager made a “full and frank admission” to police about taking £3,911.82 from the High Street local, telling officers he “fully regretted” the incident.
Mrs Porter added: “The information we have is that the money has been paid back in full by the parents of the accused.”
Steven Wight, Wallace’s lawyer, said that despite the fraud on June 8 2008, his client had been in steady employment.
He added that the accused had a “significant debt and had developed a gambling addiction”.
Mr Wight said Wallace had found himself “desperately trying to recover from a situation that was not really recoverable”.
Mr Wight told how the accused came from “a very good background” and was “ashamed, not only for himself, but also for his parents”.
The lawyer added that Wallace, who had plead guilty to stealing the money at a previous hearing, was “fully aware of the seriousness” of the charge and had since taken steps to deal with his vice.
In closing, Sheriff William Dunlop said that this was a “great breach of trust”.
Wallace, now of 120 Hillview Drive, Clarkston, Glasgow, was sentenced to 160 hours community service.
Belhaven Pubs, which owns The Counting House, declined to comment.
Del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon
Christmas songs played to sharks