Millionaire recycling boss, 54, sues 'luxury' bookies after he blew £100K
A multimillionaire businessman who claims he lost more than £100,000 during an "off the scale" gambling spree is suing a luxury bookies for not protecting him from his "addiction."
Recycling tycoon Scott O’Brien says he has been addicted to the “dark and destructive” habit all his adult life, and was even once driven to attempt suicide by his problem.
But he told a judge this week his habit went into overdrive after he sold his Essex-based paper recycling business Pulp Friction for £9million in 2012.
He claims he was so "erratic" at one point that he stashed £1 million in cash at the bottom of his wardrobe.
The 54-year-old is now suing "luxury" bookmakers Star Sports after he spent over £400,000 at the company’s flagship Mayfair betting shop, close to the famous Dorchester Hotel, while backing dogs and horses.
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While he lost £48,859 on the bets, Mr O’Brien says that taking into account money he also blew on betting terminals, his losses total more than £100,000.
His gambling at Star Sports reached a climax when he staked £111,945 on March 30, Central London County Court heard (Champion News)Now suing for his money back, his lawyers say the company breached its duty to act in line with its “social responsibility code provisions” and that some of his gambling loses "were due to Star Sports’ failure to comply with the (code) applicable to its operating licence”.
He is also suing the company for breach of contract.
But the bookmakers' lawyers are defending the claim, denying that he disclosed having a problem and insisting there is no "general duty of care" on a bookmaker in this instance.
Mr O’Brien claims he told a member of staff at the West End store that he was a “compulsive gambler” and says the company should have taken steps to bar him from their store or at least limit his wagers over a six-month stretch between September 2018 and March 2019.
He says he wagered £419,252 during this period, incurring losses of £48,859, and in addition claims he was also losing large amounts of cash on betting terminals in the Star Sports shop.
His gambling at Star Sports reached a climax when he staked £111,945 on March 30, Central London County Court heard. His betting was "off the scale” at the time and he was blowing cash at various other high street bookmakers, he says.
The recycling tycoon's lawyers claim Star Sports breached its duty to act in line with its 'social responsibility code provisions'Mr O’Brien said he ended up disclosing his addiction to Gemma Mehmet, then a cashier at Star Sports, who he happened to recognise as a parent from the same school his kids attended.
He said he urged her not to let on that he had a problem, and was particularly concerned that his ex-wife might learn that he was back at gambling.
"I thought Gemma might say something,” he told the court. “I asked her not to tell anyone that I had a bit of a problem with gambling and she appeared understanding.
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"I told Gemma I had tried committing suicide once and spent ten months in rehab due to my addiction - and begged her not to tell my ex.”
Mr O’Brien, who went through rehab in 2002, added: "I told her that I’d had serious problems in the past and it would create more serious problems if my ex-wife found out.”
But defence barrister, Christopher Gillespie, disputed that he had confessed his addiction to the Star Sports cashier, branding his claim "nonsense” and arguing that staff had no reason to suspect Mr O’Brien was in deep trouble.
The barrister told Judge Heather Baucher: "At no time did the claimant ever alert any member of staff that he had a gambling problem or was a problem gambler.
"On the contrary, the claimant portrayed himself as a successful businessman with a variety of interests, who lived in Knightsbridge, had a driver, dressed well and moved in wealthy social circles."
Mr O’Brien was living the high life at the time, the court heard, and his name had been linked in newspaper gossip columns with Claire Caudwell, the former partner of billionaire Phones 4U founder John Caudwell.
The former recycling tycoon was not a daily visitor at the Star Sports store, said Mr Gillespie, having attended it only 17 times over six months.
And until March 30 2019, "his winnings exceeded his losses”, said the barrister.
Mr O’Brien however told the judge: "it was common knowledge among Star staff that I had a gambling problem”.
He said he ended up in Star Sports because most other local bookmakers"restricted his bets” or “didn't want my business because I was so erratic”.
He had been a "good customer” at Star Sports, where he lost "horrendous amounts of money”, claimed Mr O’Brien, adding: “it was very easy for me to gamble in Star with no questions asked”.
He accepted that he did not ask Star Sports staff to bar him from the betting shop to prevent him gambling, but explained: “I’m a compulsive gambler and so I didn't want to be excluded”.
"I’ve gambled all my life and it’s stripped me bare. I don’t even like gambling, but it’s just something I can't control.”
He said his gambling fever was such that he once lost £836,000 in one night at a casino, only to win it all back during a "purple patch”.
But Mr Gillespie said his clients had done their utmost to ensure responsible gambling in their shop, although adding "there is no general duty of care on a bookmaker to protect a gambling addict from the consequences of his addiction”.
If you're struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email [email protected] or visit their site to find your local branch
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