An ex serviceman of the Royal Navy has received a suspended prison sentence for embezzling local veterans charitable organisations in order to fund his gambling addiction.
The 38-year-old Andrew Gallie was accused in stealing approximately £50,000 from the Not Forgotten Association after he started working for the organisation. The former Royal Navy serviceman has misappropriated a massive amount of money by making a total of 59 payments to himself instead of using them to make invoice payments.
Stealing the Money to Fund Gambling Addiction
The ex-serviceman, who served with the Royal Navy in the period from 1998 to 2011, was charged of fraud by abuse of position for embezzling the amount of £47,600. He pleaded guilty to the charge in August. He said he felt guilty for what he did and thanked the Not Forgotten Association for the support, saying he was to return the money he stole.
At the court hearing, it became clear that Gallie’s money fraud came to light on June 2017, when the financial manager of the employee noticed some illogical and surprising lack of compatibility in the payments. The manager ordered Gallie to fix the issue and further informed him that his previous activity would be audited.
Gallie himself admitted committing the money fraud since January this year, taking a massive amount of money to fuel his gambling addiction. He has also explained that he had been dealing with the gambling issue pretty much his entire life and apologised for what he did.
Southwark Crown Court’s Sentence
The Southwark Crown Court sentenced Mr. Gallie to two years imprisonment, suspended for two years. The judge, Recorder Edward Connell commented that as an ex-serviceman Gallie were perfectly aware of the importance of the charity’s work. He told the former serviceman that his efforts to get suitable treatment for his gambling addiction were impressing, so he decided to give him a chance.
The Court found that the former serviceman had previously been convicted for fraud while working at a Cornish care home, for which he received a two-year conditional discharge.
Apart from the sentence, the judge further issued an order that Gallie must join a gambling addicts’ programme and carry out a 200-hour unpaid community service.
As reported by the BBC, after Gallie heard his sentence, he commented that becoming a gambling addict is not a choice. The Not Forgotten Association representatives have said that it was a great shock for the organisation to find out that one of its workers was involved in such a misappropriation, especially considering the fact that it was a small charity consisting of only eight employees, not to mention that Gallie himself was a veteran. Still, the charity organisation gave its promise to further support both Gallie and his family, as the employee clearly needed some help.
- Author
Daniel Williams
