Gambler who stole £6,000 avoids prison

A GAMBLING addict who stole more than £6,000 in a month from her mother’s bank account has avoided prison despite failing to complete her community payback order.

Lynn Cree, 51, will be restricted to her home in The Larches, Dundee, for 140 days, between 7pm and 5am.

Dundee Sheriff Court heard she has only paid back around a third of what she stole from 82-year-old Daisy Cree.

She has not finished her unpaid work or met with criminal justice support workers.

At a previous hearing in May, defence solicitor Ian Houston said Cree had been struggling with mental health issues.

He said: “The reason for the breach of the community payback order was because of mental health issues.

“She is in the hands of her GP.

“She has repaid around £2,000 but her mother, in a forgiving mood, says she doesn’t want more.”

The court was previously told Cree had been given the PIN for a bank card so she could help with her frail mother’s shopping.

She took the card and began helping herself to cash from machines around the city while her mother spent a period in hospital.

The court was told that on Christmas Eve the account contained £5,342 but by the time the theft came to light about a month later, only £80 was left.

Daisy Cree checked her savings on January 30 2018.

Depute fiscal Christine Allan said: “She was shocked when she was told by bank staff and began crying and had to be aided by a member of staff.

“During an interview the accused freely stated she had taken the Post Office card around the end of December 2017.

“She was aware of the PIN, having previously done shopping for the complainer.

“The accused stated she had withdrawn several thousand pounds from various ATMs across Dundee over the following month.

“She was extremely tearful during interview and advised that as a result of spiralling gambling debts she had stolen the money out of desperation.”

The court was told Cree was remorseful for what she had done and had taken steps to give up gambling completely.

“I was thinking I would win it back but it just got further and further,” she told police.