Homeless man attacked slot machine after losing money in Boston’s 24-hour Merkur casino
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An ‘agitated’ homeless man attacked a slot machine after losing his money in a 24-hour casino.
Desperate Paulius Kysla was hoping to win enough money to pay for accommodation that night, but became aggressive after losing the little cash he had at the Merkur slots venue in Boston.
His actions ended up costing him another £261 when he appeared in court on Wednesday (April 24).
“He was using a slot machine at a 24-hour casino and became agitated and upset at losing his money,” prosecutor Turan Sunak told Boston magistrates.
“He began striking the machine and it stopped working.
“A worker hit the panic button, causing the police to attend.”
Kysla pleaded guilty to charges of criminal damage on January 25 and failing to answer bail on February 4.
In defence, Rebecca Freitas said: “He was homeless and tried to win some money to get accommodation for the night, so when he lost his money it didn’t go down well.
“He accepts he hit the machine. He classed the people in the shop as friends previously and would like to go back and apologise.”
Regarding the failure to answer bail, the court was told the defendant was ‘struggling with alcohol misuse’ at the time and ‘forgot’.
Mrs Freitas added that when Kysla was arrested his belongings were left out for the night and his passport was stolen.
While awaiting a replacement he is unable to find work in this country, but has been helped to find accommodation and apply for universal credit by Boston Borough Council.
For the criminal damage, Kysla, of Daisy Dale, Boston, was handed a six-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay Merkur £150 in compensation.
He must also pay a £26 victim surcharge and £85 costs.
There was no separate penalty for failing to answer bail,
