Out-of-Control Gambler Head-Butts Fruit Machine
5th June, 2008
After losing £500 that was meant to be used for a holiday, a man head butted the Cash Quest machine out of rage at a Ladbrokes Casino in Brighouse.
It turns out that the money Chris Barraclough lost was given to him by his mother to go on a holiday. He played the fruit machine from 3 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., but instead of winning a fortune he ended up losing and couldn’t contain his anger.
Injuring his head and knuckles, Barraclough's head butt to the machine shattered the glass and caused a scene.
“The manager of the shop noticed him at 3 p.m.,” said Carole Lawford, prosecutor. “He was loud and confident, and she suspected he was on something."
“He kept leaving in a taxi and returning with more money,” Lawford said. “But he loses the money. He goes into a rage, shouting at himself. He picked up a bar stool and looked like he was going to throw it though the glass front door. He had a change of heart and put it down. He then butted the machine.”
Barraclough admitted to the criminal damage and has called Gambling Anonymous to help him with his problem. He was told to pay £360 total, £60 for costs and £300 for compensation.
“His mother had given him £500 to go on holiday and he used it in the machine and lost it,” said Richard Brown, speaking for Barraclough. “He then lost his temper.”
“Prior to this he thought gambling was just fun, but after it became more than that,” Brown said. “But he has learned his lesson and stopped gambling. He has called Gambling Anonymous.”
By Michael
