Mother breaks down in court after stealing £27,000 from children’s sports teams to fuel gambling habit

Jennifer Morrison, aged 48, avoided jail time after admitting to stealing over £27,000 from a children’s sports club where she was working as a volunteer. The mum-to-be had been diverting funds to fuel her gambling addiction while serving as the treasurer of the Haydock Warriors rugby league club. Morrison was responsible for handling the club’s finances, including payments and equipment orders. Her thefts, totaling £27,353.45, involved numerous dishonest withdrawals directly to her bank account and transfers to gambling websites. Her actions were discovered when the club’s chairman noticed financial irregularities that led to teams disbanding.

Initially making excuses, Morrison eventually admitted to the theft due to struggles with her mental health and gambling addiction, stemming from post-natal depression when her child was born. She expressed remorse and pledged to repay the stolen funds. Morrison, with no prior criminal record, was supported by her family during the court proceedings. She was sentenced to a 16-month imprisonment suspended for two years, 80 hours of unpaid work, and a rehabilitation program. The court recognized her addiction and remorse while emphasizing the breach of trust and impact on the community.

Throughout her time as treasurer, Morrison made fraudulent transactions including paying £300 for selection boxes when the club only had 44 players and over £1,200 “without explanation” on other occasions. Her thefts over a span of nearly four years exposed her addicted gambling patterns, resulting in financial harm to the club and its members. Morrison’s gambling addiction developed into a long-standing problem that contributed to her criminal behavior, which led to her losing her job due to gross misconduct. Despite facing legal repercussions, Morrison’s remorse and efforts to address her addiction were acknowledged during sentencing.

The court highlighted Morrison’s breach of trust in her position of financial responsibility, which directly affected the club’s young members and the community at large. The stolen funds, meant to benefit club activities, were misappropriated for personal use, revealing Morrison’s deep-seated addiction issues. Recognizing her personal challenges, the court imposed a suspended sentence and accompanying requirements to address her gambling addiction and contribute positively to the community. Morrison’s cooperation with the legal process, supported by her family, indicated a willingness to take responsibility for her actions and make amends for the harm caused.

In sentencing Morrison, the court addressed her significant mitigation factors, including her work ethic, family support, and efforts to seek help for her addiction. The suspended sentence allowed her to avoid immediate imprisonment but required her to fulfill community service, rehabilitation, and unpaid work to make reparations for her crimes. By holding her accountable for her actions while acknowledging her remorse and ongoing efforts to overcome addiction, the court aimed to balance justice with support for Morrison’s rehabilitation and reintegration into society. The case shed light on the complexities of addiction, mental health, and the ripple effects of criminal behavior on individuals and community organizations.