Online poker player steals £1 million from employers

A 23-year-old British man has admitted to stealing more than £1 million from his employers to fund his online poker addiction. Bryan Benjafield stole the money while working as a bookkeeper for a London construction firm called Charminster Limited, which has since been forced to liquidate its assets.

The funds were siphoned through withdrawals, self-written cheques and electronic transfers.

Benjafield, who had known his employers since he was 17 years old, admitted to police that he gambled all the funds online at Ladbrokes playing poker and other games, and has since gone bust. He had been working for the company for three years and was its first employee.

The full extent of his thievery was only realized once the financial records of the company were thoroughly examined. At that time, it was revealed that Benjafield was stealing up to £17,000 on a daily basis up until the day he was caught.

Sentencing has been suspended to a date later this year. Benjafield is reported to be seeking help for his addiction.