Gambler joined gym, then stole credit cards

10:30pm Sunday 2nd November 2008

Comments (3)   Have your say »

A BUSINESSMAN with a gambling addiction joined a Worcester health club to gain access to members’ credit cards.

Nicholas Hughes succeeded in obtaining £3,800 by using cards he grabbed in changing rooms at Cannons in Perdiswell.

He also stole a wallet but failed to obtain another £3,500 with the same scam because of pin security, Worcester Crown Court heard.

Hughes also bought a £690 ring using a stolen credit card and was in breach of a suspended 12-month jail term for similar crimes, said Stephen Wetton, prosecuting.

Hughes, aged 35, of no fixed address, was jailed for three years. He pleaded guilty to fraud, attempted fraud, handling stolen goods and theft.

The father-of-four targeted Cannons in July last year by paying for a month’s membership.

He used its gym equipment but broke into a number of lockers to steal the cards.

Hughes got five more cards from another club and stole a sixth from a hotel.

Defence counsel Cathlyn Orchard said he had previously worked at a casino but gambling led him down “a slippery slope” and his debts mounted up.

He then went into business on his own, running a burger van which kept him out of trouble for a time.

The judge made an order seizing £1,035 from Hughes.