What judge told Solihull gambler after he found £15k in Genting Casino – and spent it

A Solihull gambler thought it was his lucky day when he discovered £15,000 left unattended by a high roller at the Genting Casino at Resorts World.

Panikos Constantinou “stuffed the cash up his jumper” and then fled from the premises before gambling the cash away.

Constantinou, 63, of Landrail Walk, Smithswood appeared at Birmingham Crown Court, and pleaded guilty to theft.

He was sentenced to six months in jail, suspended for two years.

On 15th June last year the victim was at the end of his holiday in England when he decided to spend a few hours in the Genting Casino.

He had a laptop bag with him containing a smaller bag which had £15,000 in it – winnings from an earlier visit to a casino.

He put the bag under the table where he was playing and then went to another table.

When he returned seconds later, the bag was no longer there.

He alerted security and when they looked at CCTV footage they saw the defendant go up to the table, pick up the bag and then conceal it.

Constantinou then quickly made his way out of the building on the NEC site, and drove off with his wife, said Michael Conry, prosecuting.

When later arrested and quizzed he denied the theft, claiming he had left in a hurry because his wife had become unwell.

Passing sentence, Judge Richard Bond told him: “On June 15 last year you saw that the bag had been left by a gaming table.

“I am absolutely sure you had a fairly good idea that it contained money. You took a chance. I accept you did not go into the Genting Casino to steal other people’s money.

“What an amazing day you had when you realised you had £15,000. You certainly enjoyed it.

“You really should be ashamed of yourself having committed such an offence at your age.

“You thought ‘free money, it is mine and I am going to spend it’ which is absolutely what you did.”

The judge said he had taken into account the fact that Constantinou was of good character and that he was remorseful.

Zahir Afzal, defending, said he cared for his wife who suffered from epilepsy and that he had his own health difficulties.

He said they lived a quiet life and only went out every couple of months to gamble around £30 at the casino.

Read more: https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/what-judge-told-solihull-gambler-15012971