A woman has been jailed for four years after her gambling addiction led to her conning a friend out of nearly half a million pounds, and then going onto losing all of it in casinos.

Sharon Knight, 45, pleaded guilty to charges of deception between 2000 and 2007 at Bristol Crown Court. She had taken £454,000 from friend Anthony Jones, ages 62, telling him that she needed the money for a wide range of uses, including paying for cars, loan sharks, tax bills and college courses. The care workers had in fact been using the cash to fund her gambling addiction, where she progressed from arcade machines to placing increasingly large bets in numerous casinos. The two had met nearly in the 70s, when Mr Jones had set up a business in Monmouthshire.

Judge Richard Bromilow said: “It seems to me that he was naive and could be described as foolish or even stupid but I am quite satisfied you must have been aware of his vulnerable position and preyed upon him for a long period of time.”

Defendant Julie Phillips said: “Unfortunately the addiction had got such a hold that she was ill.” She also told how her client simply kept gambling because she was so caring for Mr Jones, and wanted to pay him back with a big win which never came.

If you feel you may have a gambling problem, or are interested in finding out more about the problems associated, visit GamCare: http://www.gamcare.org.uk/