A mother who stole thousands of pounds from her employer to feed her gambling addiction has been banned from every bingo hall in Britain.
Jennifer Rooney, 55, stole £12,149 from Barnsbury Housing Association, which she gambled in bingo halls and on fruit machines.
Rooney, from Islington, who stole small amounts of cash over a period of three months, admitted six counts of theft and one charge of fraud by abuse of position at Blackfriars crown court.
Angus Mathieson, defending, said: “Her addiction has been mainly towards bingo and some use of slot machines. She has not gone to bingo or gambled since February.”
Judge John Hillen sentenced Rooney to eight months in prison, suspended for 18 months, imposed a 7.30pm-6am curfew for four months and ordered her to pay £1,400 in compensation.
He also gave her a prohibited activity order which bans her from entering bingo halls or playing gaming machines for 18 months.
Judge Hillen said: “Gaming is at the heart of what caused you to do this.
"You had a parent who was a gambler and a son who was a gambler and you became addicted to bingo and fruit machines.”
MORE ABOUT