Gambling addict conned businesses out of thousands

A GAMBLING addict who defrauded businesses out of more than £21,000 by signing cheques under a false name and stealing petrol has been jailed for two years.
Peter WoffendenPeter Woffenden
Peter Woffenden

Peter Woffenden (60), of Lincoln Street, Maltby, mounted a “campaign of dishonesty” to try to pay off his gambling debts.

He was jailed at Sheffield Crown Court on Friday (18) after admitting at a previous hearing to eight counts of fraud, one count of attempted fraud and one of theft committed between April and November last year.

Woffenden made more than £16,000 by signing cheques under a false name and selling on his ill-gotten gains. He also stole more than £5,000 worth of petrol.

Sentencing Woffenden, Judge David Dixon said: “You, like many before you, have fallen to addiction and your addiction is gambling.

“You lost hundreds of thousands of pounds and you lost your home.”

Ms Bev Tait, prosecuting, said Woffenden had visited a number bike shops around the country and bought thousands of pounds worth of goods using cheques, which would bounce.

Woffenden used the alias Martin Frost and would often return the following day to buy more goods.

Ms Tait said he had been caught when he contacted a bearings shop in Leicester and the employee remembered seeing a warning not to accept cheques from a Martin Frost.

She contacted the police and an officer was waiting for Woffenden when he arrived at the store.

He also stole petrol from filling stations after claiming he had no means to pay and would falsely claim he would return, Ms Tait added.

Woffenden’s illicit gains totalled £21,816.

Mr Richard Adams, mitigating, said Woffenden ran a successful automotive business and was a man who “ought to be able to provide for his himself and his family comfortably”.

He said Woffenden had a “chronic gambling addiction” which began when he was 14 after visiting seaside amusement arcades.

Woffenden always believed there would “be a big win around the corner” and his debts would be repaid, Mr Adams said.

He said Woffenden had lost “hundreds of thousands of pounds” over the years and had referred himself to gambling addiction charity Gamcare.

Judge Dixon said Woffenden could not break away from the thought that “one more bet will fix all of this”.

He said Woffenden had a “history of dishonesty over the years” but commended him for seeking help for his gambling addiction.

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