A gym manager who conned members out of thousands of pounds to fuel her gambling habit has been sentenced to 14 months in prison 💰⚖️
Newport Crown Court heard Kathryn MacDonald, 44, of Traston Road in Newport, pocketed money from members at B Fit Personal Training in Roath and used it to fund her gambling addiction.
Prosecutor Paul Hewitt told the court MacDonald told customers the card machine wasn’t working and took cash instead, pocketing most of the money whilst paying small amounts to the business to cover her tracks.
The court heard MacDonald took more than £5,800 from three customers between August 2022 and November 2023, but the business only received £656 of this total.
One victim told the court she felt “used” and “manipulated” by the defendant, saying: “She doesn’t care that I’m a single mother who doesn’t have a lot of money.”
The court heard MacDonald had previous convictions, including being jailed for 18 months in 2018 after stealing more than £48,000 whilst working for Vale of Glamorgan Council.
Defence barrister Jac Brown said MacDonald’s offending was “to fund her spiralling gambling addiction”, telling the court: “Ms MacDonald would go hungry just to feed the addiction and to keep the thrill of gambling alive.”
He added she “requires significant rehabilitation” and it was “likely she will continue being convicted” if she doesn’t receive help for her addiction.
Judge Celia Hughes said: “This was an appalling way to behave to your employer – a small business trying to make a living by running a gym. The loss has had a substantial effect.”
Judge Hughes noted MacDonald’s previous convictions were “extremely aggravating” factors and that she posed a “substantial risk” of re-offending.
MacDonald was sentenced to 14 months in prison.
