Pub manager stole £18,730 to pay debts

A PUB manager embezzled thousands of pounds from his employer to feed his “out-of-control” gambling addiction.

Ian Gregory was in charge of the David Macbeth Moir public house when he took more than £18,000 of takings in a bid to wipe out his betting debts.

The pub boss placed punts of up to £500 on football matches and other sports events after taking the cash from the bar in Musselburgh, East Lothian.

Gregory, from Thankerton, Lanarkshire, was caught out when his boss noticed a large amount of cash takings had not been placed in the company’s bank account as usual.

Instead of having the cash banked, Gregory had deposited around £6000 into his personal bank account, while splashing the rest at the bookies and online betting sites.

Gregory later admitted to his boss that his “gambling addiction was out of control”.

Gregory, 37, pleaded guilty to embezzling £18,730 between November 3 and 10 from employer JD Wetherspoon when he appeared at Haddington Sheriff Court.

Sheriff Peter Braid deferred sentence until next month for the preparation of reports.