Gambling addict stole nearly £12,000 from elderly mother

Former special forces serviceman David Apps left his mother Anne Bates penniless after spending a night drinking and gambling – putting all his spending on her credit card.

The 57-year-old was visiting his mother in Eastleigh last July when he gambled £11,900 on sports betting site Spreadex.

His need to steal from his elderly mother ‘with his level of income’ was questioned by the judge during his sentencing on Monday. Apps is a director of special projects at the United Arab Emirates government.

He previously worked as a police officer in Australia, and also served in both the Australian and British Special Forces, according to his public LinkedIn profile.

His mum was so distressed by the gambling when it was discovered that she recently sold her apartment and would move to live with her daughter in Australia.

David Apps leaving Southampton Crown Court on January 15 (Image: Newsquest)

In a victim impact statement read out at Southampton Crown Court, she said Apps’ actions left her ‘financially vulnerable’.

Ms Bates said: “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.”

READ MORE: Fraudster wipes out businessman's £275k pension fund

Prosecutor Nicola Sully told the court how only Apps and his mum had access to her credit card.

She said: “The defendant stole the money during a 24-hour stay with his mother.

“He accepts he gambled the money as a result of boredom and drinking.

“He spent £11,900 in total with Spreadex after registering his mother’s card to his account.

“There were 10 transactions totalling £4,100 and 21 further transactions totalling £7,800.

“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, whose address was given to the court as Highfield Road in Chelsea, admitted fraud by false representation in October last year. 

Emily Lanham, mitigating, said he maxed out his credit cards due to his gambling addiction.

"Apps had some loans he was paying off, and he was spending £5,000 a month on gambling," she told the court.

READ NEXT: Shoplifter stole £2,000 worth of stock from Westquay shops over two days

She added: “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.”

Apps was handed a deferred sentence, meaning he must complete five requirements by July 15.

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.”