Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Fined £350 for shaking machine and abusing female worker
A trip to the bookies for an Airdrie man with a “significant gambling problem” ended with him considerably more out of pocket than he intended – after he received a heavy fine for a violent outburst towards a shocked female member of staff.
Barry Horn, who had previously “blew tens of thousands of pounds of inheritance money” on gambling machines, visited the Coral premises on Stirling Street on October 14 last year to play roulette.
But after failing to overcome the odds, the frustrated 28- year- old Reid Street resident unleashed his fury and subjected the terrified cashier to a torrent of abuse.
He also shook machines and threw money at the woman behind the counter.
The procurator fiscal told Airdrie Sheriff Court: “At around 5.30pm the accused entered the bookmakers and began playing a roulette machine.
“Shortly after, he became angry and irate and began shouting ‘it’s f****** rigged’, before striking and shaking the machine.”
Despite the cashier asking him to stop or he’d be removed from the premises, Horn failed to calm down and the woman was left with no choice but to activate a device which connects to a security company and allows them to listen via an intercom.
The woman also blocked the roulette machine Horn had been gambling on.
The fiscal continued: “The acused then walked to the counter and demanded his winnings.
“The cashier gave them to him but he threw them directly back at her and called her a ‘f****** idiot’ and a ‘daft wee cow’.
“He also threatened to ‘punch her c*** in’ and said ‘bring your dad down here and I’ll show you what a real hard man is’.”
The fiscal continued: “Another customer ushered the accused out and police were contacted by the victim.
“The accused was identified but he wasn’t able to be traced at the time.”
Horn’s defence solicitor Paul Belardo said: “My client fully accepts this behaviour is totally unnaceptable.
“He has a significant gambling problem and blew a significant amount of inheritance money – tens of thousands of pounds – on machines some years ago.
“We are not talking about a professional gambler here who is capable of playing the odds.
“He was trying to take on machines when there is only going to be one winner.
“He was well, well down and was trying to make the money back but was failing and when the machine was turned off he felt he’d lost the opportunity to succeed.
“There will not be any repeat of this and he has signed a form banning himself from gambling premises.
“He has managed to get his life back on track.”
Sheriff Morag Shankland said: “This is absolutely disgraceful behaviour.
“Nobody should have to put up with language or behaviour like that in the workplace.
“You are fined £350 which is payable at £20 per week.”