Dominating not just bingo news, but national news was reports of two bingo cashiers at the Pavilion Bingo Club in Liverpool, recieving jail sentences after getting caught stealing £183,000.
Jorun Chang, 58, and Jeanette Warrilow, 59, were busted when a manager at the ‘The Pivvy’, in Toxteth noticed takings were higher than normal when the two friends went away on holiiday together.
In September 2016, Pavilion Bingo Club Manager Philip Corran spotted that takings for a Saturday session were “significantly higher than normal”.
When Corran went over figures for previous Saturdays, when Warrilow was on shift, Corran saw that the print outs and reconciliation sheets didn’t match, because Warrilow was inputting lower amounts.
On return from her holiday, Warrilow was confronted but claimed she had simply made errors and left the office. She was suspended and at a disciplinary hearing that month, she confessed and apologised.
Records from 2012 to 2016 were then”painstakingly analysed” and showed that the two had began stealing hundreds of pounds. However, this steadily increased with the pair eventually “taking well over £20,000 per year each”.
Using the lowest estimates, its is believed that Warrilow stole £83,500 whilst Chang stole £99,900.
The historic bingo hall in Lodge Lane, owned by Mark and Gary Armstrong, had around 30 staff, but was running at a loss during the period. The prosecutor said
“The Crown don’t suggest Ms Chang and Ms Warrilow were solely responsible for those issues, but it certainly wouldn’t have helped any financial difficulties.”
Warrilow, from Anfield, had actually worked for Pavilion and an associated bingo hall – Carlton in Orrell Park where she was a bingo caller – for about 30 years.
Whilst Warrilow explained she had debts from a gambling addiction and “expressed some remorse”, Chang gave two “no comment” interviews in October 2016 and July 2017.
Due to the delay in being charged and going to court, the Judge reduced the sentences. He jailed Chang for 16 months and Warrilow for 12 months.
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