In prison, father who was wooed to carry on betting

A FATHER who was given cash rebates to encourage him to keep betting is now behind bars after his addiction spiralled out of control.

Steven Girling, 36, was jailed for four years last month after stealing £1.1million from his employer to fund his habit.

Last night his wife called for firms to be banned from offering cash returns to customers in the wake of the Daily Mail’s investigation.

Girling was given VIP status by several major betting firms after spending up to £50,000 a day online on slot machines and roulette.

At least one firm transferred £500 ‘gifts’ to him when he was losing and also put money in his account when the racehorse he part-owned was running, his wife Rashael said. He was also given free tickets to Premier League matches and an all-expenses paid holiday to Dubai. His wife said such perks should be banned as there is ‘no need for encouragement’.

He was also given VIP tickets to Royal Ascot and the Cheltenham Gold Cup, tickets to see American football at Wembley and Everton FC, where his eldest daughter, now 13, presented man of the match.

Mrs Girling said she is having to ‘clear up the mess’ caused by predatory gambling companies. The family’s home in Norfolk has been put on the market to repay the stolen money.

She said: ‘I am sure the betting companies would have seen that Steve was a problem gambler. Especially as they knew him well.

‘[They] knew what job he did so would have had an idea of his salary. They should have seen that the amount he was spending was unrealistic.’

The finance director paid for his addiction by stealing more than £1million from sports education firm Premier Education Group, between May 2014 and October 2017.

He was sentenced to four years at Norwich Crown Court after pleading guilty to theft.

Mrs Girling did not know about her husband’s addiction but found out when his employer approached her over the theft.

Before being sentenced, Girling said: ‘I am ashamed. I didn’t want to stop. I would play £ 100 spins on slot machines, and you can spin every few seconds.

‘It was just a spiral. I’ve kept quiet for three long years and nearly lost everythinge.’

His behaviour was never questioned by the three companies he gambled with, despite the fact he once paid £50,000 – twice his salary – over 24 hours.

He added: ‘ My behaviour didn’t trigger any alarms. I thought I was making myself happy, but it was destroying me. It was prison or death.’

‘It was prison or death’