Accountant leapt to his death over gambling shame

A YOUNG accountant plunged to his death from his office building because of the ‘shame’ of his gambling addiction, an inquest has heard.

Joshua Jones owed about £30,000 to banks, pay- day loan companies, family and friends when he jumped from a ninth floor balcony.

The 23-year- old, who worked for leading accountancy firm PwC had been addicted to online gambling since his schooldays.

At university he asked friends if it was ‘legal to gamble your student loan’ and added: ‘I’ve just been consumed by gambling.’

Mr Jones’s father Martin yesterday said in a statement read to the court: ‘Josh was good looking and intelligent and had a good job but he was addicted to gambling.

‘He died of shame. He took his life because of gambling. We miss him terribly.’

Deputy Coroner Shanta Deonarine recorded a verdict of suicide at Southwark Coroner’s Court. She said there were no drugs in Joshua’s system or any significant traces of alcohol.

The inquest heard that Mr Jones, who lived in Clapham, died from multiple injuries he suffered after jumping off the PwC building in London on July 30 last year.

His addiction began with placing £5 bets on internet poker games. Shortly after his 18th birthday he admitted he had already lost £1,000 through gambling. When his parents discovered his addiction they tried to control his money, but he continued to borrow from friends and financial institutions. Mr Debt: Joshua Jones owed £30k Jones was seeking professional help, including a hypnotist, but continued struggling and on one occasion even placed a bet just minutes after a session ended.

During his treatment he told health professionals: ‘If I am in this deep, what does another pound matter?’

The Surrey University graduate was a talented musician and hockey player. But after betting away his student loan he even considered selling his beloved trombone to raise funds.

After the inquest, the accountant’s father said: ‘This is such a waste of a young life with a promising future in front of him.

‘There are some practical measures which could be adopted to reduce the possibility of another tragedy for another family.’

The 63-year- old retired civil engineer called on the online gambling industry – worth £3.5billion a year in the UK – to permanently ban addicts from placing bets.

He said: ‘Betting firms and gambling websites could introduce the option for permanent exclusion from their sites, instead of time-limited exclusions which eventually permit continued gambling again.

‘How many more deaths are needed before gambling addiction is taken more seriously?’

The father added: ‘Josh started taking out pay day loans at silly interest rates.

‘He begged us not to tell PwC about his gambling. He led a double life. With his hockey and music friends he was the life and soul of the party. We and some close friends knew the truth.’

GamCare, which provides support for addicts, said almost half of calls it now receives are related to online betting, adding that people need to ‘properly understand the risks associated with gambling’.

For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a Samaritans branch. See www.samaritans.org for details.