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These pictures show the trail of destruction caused by a gambling addict who went on a rampage in betting shops across Liverpool.

Eric Baptista caused £36,000 in damage by taking a hammer to betting terminals, TV screens and gambling machines, at seven William Hill shops in south Liverpool.

The 29-year-old, of Seacole Close, Toxteth , also smeared screens in the shops with anti-vandal paint, using his bare hands and had some of his attacks filmed on a mobile phone.

All the offences happened in May this year and included branches in Aigburth, Toxteth and Wavertree.

When arrested Baptista pleaded guilty, claiming he had done it because he was “gambling addict”.

(Image: Merseyside Police)

Liverpool Crown Court heard that he could regularly lose £400 in a matter of minutes when betting.

At one branch, during one of his rampages he shouted at staff: “I’m sick of this f***ing s***! I’m sick of losing money!”.

He also said: “This is a protest. I am sorry; there is no safety net for customers.”

(Image: Merseyside Police)

Prosecutor Mike Stephenson, told Liverpool Crown Court that Baptista, who was formerly a taxi driver had previously tried and failed to get banned from William Hill bookies.

He added: “He smashed all the machines out of frustration that he had lost so much money, and claimed that William Hill had done nothing to help him.

(Image: Merseyside Police)

“He claimed that the staff were not trained to identify a gambling addict, and that the attacks were a way for his voice to be heard.

“He stated that he had since been to counselling for his addiction, and as a result he has not been to a betting shop.

“He also said that he’d started a forum against the gambling industry, and campaigns to try to highlight the problems that gamblers face.”

Judge Elizabeth Nicholls said it was “chilling” that Baptista had filmed what she described as “a campaign of damage”.

She added: “Whether that campaign was out of vengeance, frustration or really an act of protest, is less than clear.

“The staff who witnessed it wouldn’t know where this man was going to stop.

“Think what it must have been like for those working in the store to witness you, as something of a madman, smashing up those stores.”

Baptista was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, ordered to do 150 hours of unpaid community work, and a restraining order was imposed on him, that states he must not go within 10 metres of any William Hill betting shop or approach any known William Hill employee, directly or indirectly.