Norwich father facing jail after stealing £1m to feed online gambling addiction
A father from Norwich who stole a million pounds from his former employer to feed his online gambling habit has spoken out about the addiction that almost cost him his life.
Steve Girling is facing up to five years in jail after admitting the theft.
He said: "I was playing £100 a spin and spinning every few seconds.
"Some days I'd do five figures on the slots. I was playing as soon as I woke up in the morning - any spare time.
"I was neglecting everything really, friends and family.
"I had suicidal thoughts. I'd self-harmed and overdosed. The pain was awful and there were times when I thought it was better that I wasn't here."
Click below to watch a full report from ITV Anglia's Rob Setchell
For more than three years Steve was transferring cash from company accounts to his own.
As he blew thousands of pounds a night, betting firms sent him rewards. He was classed as a VIP customer and treated - along with his wife and friends - to lavish horse racing trips.
Steve's wife, Rashael, said: "When we went to Ascot, one of the hosts was like I love your dress - I said it was twenty quid from Sainsbury's.
"I couldn't dress in Gucci or Prada. They should have known he didn't have the funds to be playing with that sort of money."
Mr Girling added: "It then came to February and there was a knock on the door. Two police officers arrested me and took me to the station.
"My wife came back from school to find them in our own home along with another half a dozen officers and sniffer dogs searching for cash."
Steve says he has not bet since. He is now training as a life coach - and working with charities - to try and help problem gamblers.
"When I printed off those first lots of bank statements, I had to run to the toilet to be sick because that's the first time I really knew how much I'd stolen," said Steve.
"It's a silent addiction. You can do it on your phone all day every day. You could quite easily walk past someone in the street who has it.
"It's dreadful and it destroys yours and others lives. It's dreadful and I want to try and help as many others as I can."
Steve has already packed his bag for prison. He's sold his car. His wife and children will soon lose their home as they try to repay the money he stole.
Steve says that, while he might be losing his possessions and even his liberty, he feels like he's got his life back.
For help and advice on gambling addiction:
Call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133
Visit the charity Be Gamble Aware
Click below to watch Jonathan Wills' interview with Marc Etches from Be Gamble Aware.