Shamed Hartlepool volunteer stole from Miles for Men charity 'after getting hooked on internet gambling'

Emma Miller, 35, dipped her hand in the till seven times over two days while she worked in The Extra Mile shop in Middleton Grange shopping centre taking £160.

But she was caught on CCTV and confronted by co-workers.

Philip Morley, prosecuting at Teesside Crown Court, said: “She worked there for approximately a year.

"Between the 10th of February and 12th of February she was operating the till in the store and was captured on CCTV helping herself to money from the till on seven separate occasions. The total taken was £160.

"She was confronted by co workers and initially denied the matter but then confirmed to them she had taken the money.”

When she was interviewed by police, Miller at first tried to claim she had been ‘set up’ by her work colleagues but the judge accepted she said it because she panicked.

She admitted seven counts of theft.

The court heard Miller, a full-time mother of seven, had never been in trouble before but got hooked on internet gambling which led to her borrowing money from people and stealing from Miles for Men.

Stephen Constantine, defending, said she had saved up £160 to repay the charity and will accept help from Gamblers Anonymous.

Mr Constantine said: “Her husband is aware of the problem. He says it’s completely out of character.

"He is supporting her. It would seem since the offence she’s doing her best to put things right.”

Miller, of York Road, Hartlepool, was given a two-year community order, 60 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay £160 compensation.

Judge Jonathan Carroll said: “This is almost inexplicable. You have thrown away your good character.

"Because your life felt somewhat empty in terms of your time you just got sucked into this internet gambling and regrettably it seems there are not many protective measures in place to control what you were doing.”

Miles for Men describe themselves as ‘the people’s charity’ and raises money to support local families dealing with illness, disabilities or going through hard times.

Since being formed in 2012 it has donated over £400,000 to cancer charities and worthy causes.

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