A Bookie’s manager from Derry has been given a suspended prison sentence for stealing thousands of pounds from his employer to fund his gambling addiction.
Daniel Cassidy, a 30-year-old manager of a Sean Graham bookmakers branch in Claudy, County Derry, took the money between September and December 2023, but repaid £1,000 before being caught. He was found with betting dockets and bank transaction slips at his home and made full admissions during police interviews.
Cassidy, of Ferguson Street, Derry pleaded guilty to stealing the money. He said that he had taken the money to ‘fund his gambling addiction’, initially intending to ‘pay it back’ with his winnings.
Londonderry Magistrates' Court heard that Cassidy's employer noticed the missing funds and investigated by reviewing rotas, which revealed that Cassidy was working at the time of the theft.
When confronted about the missing cash, Cassidy hung up the phone and failed to respond to subsequent texts.
Cassidy's defence barrister described the incident as "unsophistication" and said that his client felt "some relief" when he was caught.
The barrister also noted that Cassidy was remorseful, was attending Gamblers' Anonymous meetings, and had apologized to his former employers.
As a result, Cassidy was sentenced to 11 months in prison, suspended for three years, and ordered to pay £5,000 in compensation.
Most of my career was spent in teaching including at one of the UK’s top private schools. I left London in 2000 and set up home in Wales raising four beautiful children. I enrolled at University where I studied Photography and film and gained a Degree and subsequently a Masters Degree. In 2014 I helped launch a new local newspaper and managed to get front and back page as well as 6 filler pages on a weekly basis. I saw that journalism was changing and was a pioneer of hyperlocal news in Wales. In 2017 I started one of the first 24/7 free independent news sites for Wales. Having taken that to a successful business model I was keen for a new challenge. Joining the company is exciting for me especially as it is a new role in Europe. I am keen to establish myself and help others to do the same.
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