Shropshire Star

Shrewsbury lottery thief who stole £50,000 of tickets and scratchcards is spared jail

A former assistant manager stole lottery tickets and scratch cards that cost a shop up to £50,000, a court has heard.

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Wilcockson worked at the News Express shop on Column. Picture: Google StreetView

Thomas Wilcockson, 30, of Barleyfield, Shrewsbury, was spared jail in what Judge Peter Barrie described as an exceptional move, due to the impact a prison sentence would have on the defendant's family.

Shrewsbury Crown Court was told that Wilcockson had worked as an assistant manager at the News Express shop on Column, Shrewsbury.

Howard Searle, prosecuting, said that between February 2014 and July 2015 Wilcockson had been taking lottery scratchcards and lottery tickets and claiming the prizes.

The court was told that it was not possible to calculate the exact amount of tickets and scratchcards stolen, or the amount fraudulently claimed in winnings.

Judge Barrie said he accepted the amount was "broadly in the range of £50,000".

Mr Searle said that the financial loss mainly fell on the shop due to the way contracts with lottery operator Camelot work.

A victim impact statement from the shop's owner described how she had struggled to cope with the financial loss from the theft, and had to cut back on staff as a result.

Wilcockson pleaded guilty to one charge of theft from News Express and another of fraud - relating to the money falsely claimed in winnings.

Sentencing, Judge Barrie said: "The effect on the business is very serious. It was an immense amount of money to lose for a small shop to sustain."

He added: "I am quite sure it had a very serious effect on the owner, both personally and in terms of her business, which was seriously undermined by the losses it could not really sustain."

However, Judge Barrie said that after receiving evidence about Wilcockson's family's reliance on him for support, he would suspend any custodial sentence.

He was given a two year prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.

As part of a suspended sentence order he will have to undergo 40 days of rehabilitation work, complete 240 hours of work in the community over the next 12 months, and must observe a curfew from 8pm to 6am for the next 12 weeks.

Judge Barrie also scheduled proceeds of crime proceedings for the new year when the prosecution will attempt to recover some of the money stolen.

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