Betting shop worker faked robbery and inflicted injuries on himself (Photo posed)

A BETTING shop worker faked a robbery and inflicted injuries on himself after he lost €2,000 of his employer's money due to a gambling addiction, a court heard.

Eddie Fields (41) made a false statement to gardai but his deception was uncovered after officers viewed CCTV footage and discovered that the robbery had not taken place.

He was subsequently dismissed from his job.

Judge Anthony Halpin ordered a pre-sentence report and adjourned the matter to October to allow Fields repay the money he stole.

Fields, of MacUilliam Parade in Tallaght, admitted before Tallaght District Court to stealing €2,000 in cash, the property of Provident Finance, at Paddy Power, Village Green in Tallaght on December 4 last year.

He also admitted to making a false report to gardai on December 6, 2013.

Garda Stephen Gillespie said he received a call on December 6 about a robbery which had allegedly taken place at Village Green in Tallaght.

Gda Gillespie said Fields claimed to him that he was robbed while making a withdrawal from a local bank.

INJURIES

He said that Fields alleged that €2,000 in cash was taken during the robbery, and that he received a number of injuries.

The garda said he viewed CCTV footage of the area around the time of the alleged robbery, and he discovered it had not taken place.

Gda Gillespie also said Fields injuries were self-inflicted.

The court heard Fields has a number of minor convictions, but hasn't been in trouble for a long number of years.

Defence solicitor Padraig O'Donovan said the defendant, a father of three, has been battling a gambling addiction, and when this incident occurred he had hit “rock bottom”.

Mr O'Donovan said that Fields staged the robbery to cover a loss he had made the previous day.

The court heard the defendant has already repaid some €900 of the money he stole.

The solicitor said Fields lost his job following this incident and he is currently unemployed.

Mr O'Donovan said Fields is an active member of society, and has volunteered with a children's youth club for a long number of years.

He said the court for some time to allow the defendant repay the remainder of the money he stole.

hnews@herald.ie

Irish Independent