City gambler stole £5500

A GAMBLING addict helped himself to £5500 from the till at the shop where he worked to fund his habit, a court heard.

Richard Humphries, 32, of Calder Grove, Edinburgh, ran up debts of more than 50,000 by playing games online but has now joined Gamblers Anonymous.

Fiscal depute Malcolm Stewart told Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday Humphries was assistant manager at The Avenue Stores at Blackford Avenue, and was in charge of checking all the sales.

Mr Stewart said Humphries had tried to commit suicide. He added that his parents had paid off his debt to the store.

Sentence was deferred.