Gambling addict faces jail for theft of parents’ life savings

● Bank manager persuaded elderly couple to keep account open

A gambling addict stole more than £61,000 of her parents’ life savings despite the victims warning the bank in advance.

Michelle Cooper, 30, accessed passwords, account numbers and internet banking details to take the cash from her father Alexander, 77, and mother Maureen, 71.

The bowling champion of Kilwinning, Ayrshire, is now facing a prison sentence after admitting the theft.

The crime could have been prevented if their bank manager had not persuaded the couple to keep their account open, Kilmarnock Sheriff Court heard.

Cooper knew her father had inherited £100,000 which was placed in a separate account.

Mr Cooper gave his daughter access to funds to pay back an £8,000 debt, but after discovering her addiction and that she knew his details he wrote to the bank to cancel the account.

Iain Gray, prosecuting, said: “On May 11, she advised her father that she had emptied all of his account.”

They both went to the bank, which was not named in court, and a total of £61,250 had vanished.

“The accused and her mother attended Saltcoats police office, where she admitted what she had done and inquiries were made,” Mr Gray added.

“The bank has since made a full repayment to the accused’s parents in respect of the amount taken.”

Unemployed Cooper admitted the theft over nine days in May this year.

James Irvine, defending, said: “Not only had the Coopers gone to the bank to close the account but they were persuaded out of doing so by the bank manager, who said this was not required.

“Clearly they failed in a spectacular fashion.”

Sheriff David Hall deferred sentence until next month for background reports.

Cooper is also awaiting sentence for assaulting her sister after bursting into her house following an argument over money.

She has played for Blacklands bowling club in Kilwinning and narrowly missed out on a place in the Scotland squad for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.