Dad-of-two turned to drug dealing after racking up huge slot machine debts
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A gambling addict who built up serious debts after playing heavily-criticised roulette machines in betting shops turned in desperation to selling cannabis on the streets.
The much-reviled and highly addictive machines have regularly been condemned nationally for the hold they can have on punters and the speed the gamblers can lose money.
Matthew Treacher was trying to "keep the wolf from the door" over his growing debts but his partner of 14 years finished with him over the matter, a court heard.
Treacher, 36, of Chelmsford Avenue, Grimsby, admitted possessing cannabis with intent to supply on November 15, 2019.
Michael Masson, prosecuting, told Grimsby Crown Court that police stopped a Peugeot 207 at 2.25pm and searched it.
During the search, in Yarborough Road, Grimsby, they found two black canisters containing skunk herbal cannabis in the boot.
Further bags of cannabis were found in the driver's seat pocket and individual packs of the drug were seen in a clear plastic tub.
Messages on a phone indicated that he was involved in supply. No value had been put on the cannabis stashes.
Richard Hackfath, mitigating, said that the reason that Treacher became involved with selling cannabis was because of a gambling addiction.
"His involvement was to raise money to keep the wolf from the door as far as his debts were concerned," said Mr Hackfath.
"Any money that he was getting in was going out. He had a significant gambling addiction, which he had hidden from his family."
Some of the debts were legitimate and others were "black market" and he used slot machines and roulette machines in betting shops that had caused a controversy a couple of years ago.
"He was a cannabis user and therefore had some contact with that world," added Mr Hackfath.
"He began to sell cannabis in order to meet those gambling debts."
Treacher had two children but, because of the drugs matter and its aftermath, his partner of 14 years had finished their relationship and he had lost his home as well as her "support and affection".
Treacher had no previous convictions and had been in no further trouble.
He had lost his job at the time after 20 years through redundancy but had found a new home, with a mortgage.
"He accepts that he has been an utter fool and regrets his involvement in this," said Mr Hackfath.
"He has learned his lesson and is full of remorse. He has sorted himself out over the last 18 months.
"He has voluntarily been banned from the betting offices that he used to frequent and simply doesn't get involved in that way."
Recorder David Kelly told Treacher: "Dealing drugs does cause misery to the people who buy them.
"You were intending to deal that cannabis at street level. You stood to make some financial gain.
"You were a drug user yourself, which gave you the connections to deal in cannabis.
"You had a gambling problem and you were under pressure to pay the gambling debts and that's why you committed this offence.
"You have managed to pull yourself together since committing this offence."
Treacher was given a six-month suspended prison sentence and 80 hours' unpaid work.
