A young dad thought his Christmas had come early after coming into thousands of pounds.
Bailey Walton, 22, couldn't believe his luck after seeing £10,000 had been put into his bank account by his partner's boss, who had accidentally added an extra '0' to his girlfriend's wage slip.
Advert
But the father-of-two, from Little Hulton, in Salford, didn't waste any time in using his newfound wealth and over the next month paid off his gambling debts he had built up from using betting machines, a court heard.
At a hearing at Minshull Street Crown Court, in Manchester, it was heard his girlfriend Lauren Wood, 24, knew nothing of her partner's windfall.
Miss Wood was initially charged with theft alongside Walton but the case against her was dropped.
It wasn't until a month later that Joanna Harvey, who runs a care services business, realised the mistake and called police.
Security guard Walton, admitted theft and was sentenced to 14 months in jail suspended for two years and 240 hours of unpaid work for the crime, as well as being forced to pay back the money he took.
Advert
Judge Bernard Lever told the court: ''The employer made a mistake and he took advantage of this. He got a bank payment and thinks it's Christmas."
"He didn't intent to steal from her - it was her error that caused the problem.''
Sentencing Walton, the judge added: ''Your partner was working for a small firm and therefore vulnerable to financial loss.
"Miss Harvey said her and the company have been caused great problems and inconvenience due to your dishonesty.
Advert
"Your partner didn't have the stable conduct to have her own account so it was paid into yours.
"She accidentally made a bank error and gave you 10 times as much as you should have got, being £10,000.
''Miss Harvey has said the actions caused by the loss to the company has caused upset as a result of your dishonesty.
"You were not in a position of trust but in responsibility."
''You have a gambling problem and money issues and you took advantage of the mistake that was made. You could have returned the money, but you dissipated it. Now you will have to pay the money back.''
Advert
The hearing was told that Walton and Miss Wood have two young children, including an eight-week-old baby who suffers with health issues.
Defence lawyer Adam Brown said in mitigation: '"The money has now been dissipated as he had significant gambling debts.
"He had control over the account so his partner was not involved. He gave it to people who he owed money to and he regrets doing it.
''He has demonstrated that he can remain out of trouble.
Advert
"He attended the police station to admit to what he did. A reference from his employer said he is a credit to security."
Topics: uk news