A 30-year-old man who punched a gambling machine in a Derry bookmakers after failing to win back his money has been given a conditional discharge.
Sean Kelly, 30, with an address of Bawnmore Court, Belfast, was charged with criminal damage after punching the screen of a gambling machine.
The incident took place in a Ladbrokes bookmakers where the defendant had been playing the game.
The total damage amounted to £254.
After the incident the defendant was said to have apologised to the member of staff working there, but it was later discovered that he had provided the wrong address.
Defence solicitor Seamus Quigley said his client had lost £60 on the machine.
District Judge Barney McElholm questioned the thinking of people who believe gambling machines are 'set up to give the punter money'.
Mr Quigley pointed out that the staff member wasn't aware the screen had been damaged until Kelly told him and he had been in the bookies since.
Judge McElholm remarked that the fact the defendant hadn't been barred might give him some indication of what 'they think of his gambling prowess'.
Kelly was conditionally discharged for two years.
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