'Bored' ex-special forces man left mum broke after betting away her £12k savings
A former special forces serviceman drunkenly blew away nearly £12,000 of his mum's money gambling on a sports betting site, a court heard.
David Apps left his elderly mother Anne Bates "financially vulnerable" after he spending the cash "as a result of boredom and drinking". During a 24 hour stay at his mother's apartment in Eastleigh, Hampshire, Apps made 31 transactions on her credit card - leaving her with no choice but to sell her flat as she could no longer afford to pay her bills.
A judge questioned why Apps - who currently works as a director of special projects at the United Arab Emirates government - would feel the need to steal from his mother "with his level of income". Southampton Crown Court, heard Apps, who lives in Chelsea, central London, blew the money while visiting his mother in July of last year.
According to his LinkedIn, the 57-year-old previously worked as a police officer in Australia, and also served in both the Australian and British Special Forces. Prosecutor Nicola Sully told the court how only Apps and his mum had access to her credit card.
Apps made 31 transactions on his mother's credit card - leaving her with no choice but to sell her flat (Daily Echo/Solent News)She said: "The defendant stole the money during a 24-hour stay with his mother. He spent £11,900 in total with Spreadex (a sports betting company) after registering his mother's card to his account. There were 10 transactions totalling £4,100 and 21 further transactions totalling £7,800."
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According to Ms Sully, Apps "accepts he gambled the money as a result of boredom and drinking". She added: "It can be considered an abuse of trust between an elderly mother and her son. Ms Bates has had to consider giving up her life here because of this."
Apps' mother was so distressed by the gambling when it was discovered that she recently sold her apartment and moved to live with her daughter in Australia. She told the court her son's actions have left her 'financially vulnerable', adding: "This has made me unable to cover my bills and prompted me to put my apartment for sale and move to Australia.
"I can't believe David did this and I want him to be held accountable, but he is my son and I love him. I want to reiterate that I absolutely did not give David permission to take this money."
Emily Lanham, mitigating, said Apps maxed out his mother's credit cards due to his gambling addiction. She said: "Apps had some loans he was paying off, and he was spending £5,000 a month on gambling. He has a great deal of remorse. He is willing and wants to provide for his mother and reduce the burden that this offending has brought on her."
Deferring final sentence until July, Judge Nicholas Rowland said: "He had permission to use the card, but not to blow his mother's money on gambling. Before July 15, you must pay £1,500 per month directly to Anne Bates, prove repayment of the total sums defrauded... you must also pay a significant additional sum to compensate Anne Bates for psychological trauma and provide proof of continued counselling." Apps pleaded guilty to fraud by representation in October of last year.
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