Nottingham residents' group treasurer stole £3,000 to fund gambling addiction
THE treasurer of a city centre residents' group stole more than £3,000 from its kitty to fund her gambling addiction, a court heard.
Sharon Poolton, 43, pleaded guilty to theft after withdrawing £3,178 from Victoria Centre Tenants' and Residents' Association's (VICTRA) Santander bank account between March and November last year.
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Debt: Sharon Poolton
Nottingham Crown Court heard she was £28,000 in debt and spent the money fuelling her gambling addiction after she lost her job at East Midlands Trains last year.
Poolton's withdrawals meant VICTRA was unable to pay for a £319 electricity bill. She also took the bank account into an unauthorised overdraft which then accrued bank charges.
Hannah Kinch, prosecuting, said: "Poolton had been asked by the committee of the tenants' and residents' association to present a set of accounts, but she had made a series of excuses to prevent this from happening.
"In March 2011 she lost her job and started gambling.
"The chairman of the tenants' and residents' association tells me he feels angry and hurt that Ms Poolton was in a position of trust and abused her position."
Andrew Vout, for Poolton, said she had no previous offences.
He said the reason her theft came to light was because Poolton walked into the offices of Nottingham City Homes and confessed.
He said: "She walked into their offices and said 'I'm really sorry I've taken the money'.
Judge Andrew Maw ordered Poolton to pay back what she had taken including the cost of the electricity bill and bank charges, which stood at a total of £3,513. She was also given a 12-month community order, and will be supervised by the Probation Service for 12 months.
Poolton – who is on Jobseekers' Allowance – said she would try to pay back the amount at £50 a month.
Simon Brinley, 56, a resident of 16-years at the flats, said: "This should have never have been allowed to happen. It's terribly sad it has come to this. Nobody has any faith in the association anymore."
A spokesman for Nottingham City Homes said: "As part of the auditing processes and procedures, Nottingham City Homes asked for the accounts to be submitted.
''It was at this stage that Ms Poolton confessed to us about taking the money, resulting in us calling in the police to investigate."
16 Comments
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by spondon
Monday, February 27 2012, 5:24PM
“I think I can guess "who ate all the pies" what are the odds its Sharon Poolton?”
by starving
Monday, February 27 2012, 9:43AM
“Kent14 you got there before me . . .
She is no worse than many Councillors who rob citizens to fuel their "Tram Addiction"!
As you say Kent she has all the qualifications. Get her a desk at the right hand of Councillor Jane Halfpint!”
by okson
Sunday, February 26 2012, 5:07PM
“tramp”
by FormerlyW
Sunday, February 26 2012, 4:23PM
“GALady: And now you have found a new way of making money by feeding on addictive personalities, praying on their desire for redemption by "sharing" your story, and shamelessly self-promoting even on a provincial newspaper website half way around the World.
If you were really interested in helping rather than making a buck, you would have simply referred people directly to a reputable recognized support organisation like Gamblers Anonymous, rather than just happening to mention the titles of both your books”
by GAlady
Saturday, February 25 2012, 4:20PM
“Sure, everyone loves to gamble . . . if they win. But, the person sitting next to you in church, the man in line at the grocery store, or one of your co-workers; any one of these could be involved with a gambling problem. Imagine your grandmother committing a crime to support her gambling addiction. I am a recovering alcoholic, gambler, and have recovered from other addictive behaviors. I published a book, Gripped by Gambling, where the readers can follow the destructive path of the compulsive gambler, a prison sentence, and then on to the recovery road.
I recently published a second book, Switching Addictions, describing additional issues that confront the recovering addict. If a person who has an addictive personality, doesn't admit to at least two addictions, he's not being honest. Until the underlying issues have been resolved, the person will continue to switch addictions. These are two books you might consider adding to your library. I also publish a free online newsletter, Women Helping Women, which has been on-line for more than twelve years and is read by hundreds of women (and men) from around the world. (http://tinyurl.com/6t3hhfb). I have been interviewed many times, and appeared on the 60 Minutes show in January 2011, which was moderated by Leslie Stahl.
Sincerely,
Marilyn Lancelot”
by GAlady
Saturday, February 25 2012, 4:20PM
“Sure, everyone loves to gamble . . . if they win. But, the person sitting next to you in church, the man in line at the grocery store, or one of your co-workers; any one of these could be involved with a gambling problem. Imagine your grandmother committing a crime to support her gambling addiction. I am a recovering alcoholic, gambler, and have recovered from other addictive behaviors. I published a book, Gripped by Gambling, where the readers can follow the destructive path of the compulsive gambler, a prison sentence, and then on to the recovery road.
I recently published a second book, Switching Addictions, describing additional issues that confront the recovering addict. If a person who has an addictive personality, doesn't admit to at least two addictions, he's not being honest. Until the underlying issues have been resolved, the person will continue to switch addictions. These are two books you might consider adding to your library. I also publish a free online newsletter, Women Helping Women, which has been on-line for more than twelve years and is read by hundreds of women (and men) from around the world. (http://tinyurl.com/6t3hhfb). I have been interviewed many times, and appeared on the 60 Minutes show in January 2011, which was moderated by Leslie Stahl.
Sincerely,
Marilyn Lancelot”
by cafka2020
Thursday, February 23 2012, 9:53PM
“caaaaaaaaakkkkkkkkkkkeeeeeeee”
by kent14
Thursday, February 23 2012, 6:36PM
“she's now qualified to become a councillor. they rob us”
by SN_Bassoon
Thursday, February 23 2012, 10:09AM
“i wonder if that white object (just below her left shoulder on the right of the photo) is in orbit?”
by kent14
Thursday, February 23 2012, 7:39AM
“she looks like a typical .low life sponger of the british population”