A gambling addict who began defrauding people out of money after squandering a £164,000 EuroMillions win has been jailed.
Reece Casey scammed £34,000 from 25 victims by claiming he could get 40% discount from luxury clothing company Flannels. The 31-year-old left his victims out of pocket after defrauding them via Snapchat in June, last year.
Newcastle Crown Court heard that Casey began an "entrenched lifestyle of gambling" after working off-shore. In 2018, Casey went on to win £54,000 from betting firm William Hill, before going on to pocket a £164,000 windfall a year later on the EuroMillions. But despite his wins, Casey "squandered" the thousands gambling after developing an addiction - it was then he took the decision to begin defrauding people.
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On Wednesday, Casey returned to the court be sentenced for fraud after pleading guilty to the single charge at a previous hearing. The sentencing had previously been adjourned so that more information regarding the offence could be gathered.
At a previous court appearance, Katie Spence, prosecuting, said Casey defrauded 25 people in Sunderland out of a total of £34,000 after advertising on Snapchat that he could get a 40% reduction at Flannels as he had a friend who worked there. She said: "A friend of the defendant responded to the offer and ordered multiple items. He also ordered items for other friends and family." Ms Spence added that those who had been defrauded had sent their money to Casey.
The court heard that one woman sent over £4,500 to Casey, with another woman buying items using an inheritance she received from her mum who had passed away. Another woman lost money after buying items for her husband's birthday.
Kelly Sherif, defending, said Casey had shown "extreme remorse" and said he was unaware there were so many victims as he had only dealt with three personally. She said he had an "entrenched lifestyle of gambling", which he started when he was 15 years old. She said: "In 2018, he won £58,000 from William Hill and in 2019 won £164,000 on the EuroMillions, and he squandered that money on betting. At that time, he realised his gambling addiction was extremely bad and he put several blocks in place to exclude himself from gambling."
Sentencing Casey, of Maughan Street, Dudley, West Midlands, Judge Stephen Earl jailed him for 12 months.
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