Trusted ex-council worker siphoned £197,000 of public cash to fund his gambling habit

[dutchman]

He stole the money to bankroll his gambling addiction



A former Nuneaton resident who fleeced almost £200,000 out of people in need across Warwickshire to fund a gambling habit has been jailed.

Steve Ramsey, who lived in the town and worked for Warwickshire County Council, siphoned off £197,000 of precious public funds to bankroll his gambling addiction for five years.

Ramsey, who was in money management and income control in the benefits assessment and income control department at Shire Hall, abused his position of trust to divert much-needed social care money into his own bank account.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that the 51-year-old, who now lives in Gosforth, Newcastle, had a gambling habit - mainly on football and horse racing - and it spiralled out of control, reports the Newcastle Chronicle

The previously law-abiding citizen turned to crime and Ramsey, who pleaded guilty to fraud, has been jailed for 27 months.

Locking him up, Recorder David Gordon said: “There is no doubt your appearance in court is a great personal tragedy.

“You have no previous convictions and you have lived a blameless and positive life.

“Clearly at the bottom of this is a long-standing gambling addiction, gambling has been a blight on your life.

“You have lost everything, you have lost your self-respect, you have lost the respect of others, you have lost your good name and standing in the community.

“You are an intelligent man and it should have been obvious to you years ago you should have been seeking help from professionals, avoiding you stealing scarce public funds, enormous funds.

“What you did was a clear abuse of a position of trust and responsibility.”

The court heard Ramsey faces attempts to claw back the money under the Proceeds of Crime Act and the council has taken steps to recover around £51,000 of the money from his pension.