Nottinghamshire man who blew £60k of grandfather's money on online gaming addiction jailed
He fraudulently spent tens of thousands more than he thought.
Last updated 27th Sep 2023
A man from Mansfield has been jailed after he stole his grandfather’s life savings to fund his addiction to gaming apps.
Jamie Cross, 37, fraudulently transferred £60,300 over the space of a year and spent it on hundreds of in-game purchases on things like character upgrades and extra lives.
Cross, of Hazel Grove, Mansfield Woodhouse, spent nearly all his grandfather’s savings after becoming addicted to playing games on his phone during the Covid-19 pandemic.
He set up a banking app on his grandfather's behalf to help him make online purchases over lockdown.
With login details, he used the app to transfer thousands into his own account between December 2020 and December 2021.
Cross was found out when his grandfather noticed his accounts were severely depleted.
When interviewed by detectives, Cross admitted his offending, explaining that he started by spending £100 on the odd occasion but this soon grew to over £1,000 a day as his addition became worse.
He also told officers he took up gaming as it was a release for him following a relationship break-up.
He was jailed for two years on 12 September after pleading guilty to fraud by false representation.
Police called is a "very sad case" and "a serious breach of trust".
Detective Constable Chris Underwood said: "Cross helped himself to his grandfather’s hard-earned savings and, by his own admittance, frivolously spent these savings on games within a matter of months.
"It was a serious breach of trust and Cross is rightly now facing the consequences of his actions.
“During his police interview, Cross stated that he thought he had spent around £40,000 on mobile games. When it was put to him that the figure was in fact more than £60,000, he was visibly shocked.
“This is yet another example of how the cycle of addiction can lead to individuals resorting to illicit means to fund their habit. That’s why it is important anyone who feels they may have a gaming addiction – or any other kind of addiction that could result in criminal behaviour – seeks help.
“There are ways to prevent gaming addiction, which include recognising the warning signs and monitoring your online activity if and when you’re worried.
“Gaming can be a great way to relax, destress and socialise. However, excessive gaming can have a negative impact and I would encourage anyone who feels they may have a problem to make use of the wide range of services that can help.”