Goggleshocks! TV star’s mum stole thousands from her for betting habit
ReALITY TV star Scarlett Moffatt’s mother stole thousands of pounds from her to feed an online gambling habit, it was reported yesterday.
The I’m A Celebrity winner’s mother Betty has sought therapy after her addiction was said to have ‘spiralled out of control’ during lockdown.
Mrs Moffatt has been working for her daughter since 2016 and allegedly took money from her account after becoming ‘desperate and panicky’.
Loss after loss on betting websites saw her fall into ‘sheer desperation’, and she continued to plunder the cash in the hopes her luck would change so she could start making repayments.
Upon discovering money was missing, Miss Moffatt was initially horrified, it was reported.
But after first feeling ‘betrayed and confused’, she is now giving her 50- year- old mother ‘ the emotional and physical support she needs’ along with her father Mark, 54. The family found fame through their appearances on Channel 4’s Gogglebox from their home in County Durham.
Miss Moffatt then went on to be crowned Queen of the Jungle on ITV’s I’m A Celebrity in 2016 and has since co-hosted TV shows including Ant and Dec’s
Saturday Night Takeaway. She is now a millionaire, Companies house records show, and in October 2020 it was claimed she paid herself a ‘£240,000 dividend’.
Miss Moffatt, 30, has described her mother as her best friend and ‘mamager’, a nod to the guiding hand given during her career.
Discussing Mrs Moffatt’s addiction, a source told The Sun On Sunday the family had suffered a ‘traumatic few months’, adding: ‘She was losing thousands every week, and became desperate and panicky. In sheer desperation, she took money from Scarlett’s account.
‘ But she obviously always thought she would win it back, and be able to repay her. Of course, she never did win the money [back].’
The source added: ‘Betty is still getting therapy, but has all the love and support of her family to beat this.’
‘Traumatic few months’