Thief stole £2k from gambling machine in Wolverhampton bookies

Bangaly Fofana reached under a glass screen at a Wolverhampton branch of William Hill and took a set of keys from behind the counter, the city's magistrates court heard.

Mr Mark Cooper, prosecuting, said another man Fofana was with created a distraction while the 26-year-old took the keys.

He said: "Once this is completed they go to a slot machine, or gambling machine, and Mr Fofana is the lookout. Mr Khan opens the machine, and takes out £1,915."

Both thefts are caught on the bookmaker's CCTV, which was checked after staff noticed the keys were missing.

The second man, named as Mohammed Aabad Khan, has denied his part in the enterprise, which happened on August 26, Mr Cooper said.

Fofana was arrested nearby a few days later, Mr Cooper said, made a full and frank admission in his police interview, and pleaded guilty to burglary and theft at his first appearance.

Mr Cooper said: "He said he knew what he did was wrong but he wasn't bothered about the consequences, as he had rent to pay."

During mitigation Mr Mandeep Bassi said it was not that Fofana 'didn't care' about the consequences.

He told the court: "What he states was he wasn't thinking of the consequences, that he was thinking of paying rent, not that he didn't care.

"He is very remorseful of what has taken place. He has had a gambling addiction for some years and had unfortunately gambled away the rent money.

"Unfortunately he took the unwise decision to commit a criminal offence to obtain the money."

Asked by the magistrates' panel if Fofana, of Ettingshall Road, Wolverhampton, had a family to support, Mr Bassi said he has a 19-month-old child with his partner of five years.

Mr Bassi said Fofana had been unemployed the past year, and would like help to find work, as well as help with his gambling problem.

Fofana was sentenced by the Black Country Adult Panel of Stephen Russell, Stephen Andrews and Imre Tolgyesi.

He was given an 18-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, as well as 200 hours of unpaid work, a 12-month rehabilitation activity requirement, and has to pay court charges and compensation of £1,302.50