An ex-British Army Major must pay over £145,000 ($182,000) after using a cadet unit’s money to fund his gambling. [Image: Shutterstock.com]

Spiralling gambling addiction

An ex-British Army Major must pay over £145,000 ($182,000) after using a cadet force’s money to fund his gambling addiction.

he even gave his son and daughter-in-law £8,000 to put toward a house deposit

Major Thomas Meggison was in charge of the cadet’s bank account; however, for 18 months, the 62-year-old reportedly used the money to pay off his gambling debts and to hide his addiction from his wife. He even gave his son and daughter-in-law £8,000 ($10,063) to put toward a house deposit.

As a result of his activities, the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Army Cadet Force in the UK was forced to cut the youngsters’ activities due to a lack of money.

A judge at Winchester Crown Court told Meggison, who served in Iraq, that he must pay the money back in three months or face three years in prison.

Sole control

In 2008, Meggison retired from the Army after serving with The Rifles regiment for more than thirty years.

Following that, the former Army Major was appointed to the paid position of Chief Executive Officer of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Army Cadet Force, based in Winchester. It wasn’t until 2016 that Meggison’s online gambling addiction began, quickly spiraling out of control. In 2018, he started using the cadet’s bank account to pay off his debts.

within a month he began using the account to make himself payments”

Prosecutor Matthew Lawson said that force accounts require two signatures; however, when one account executive retired, Meggison became the sole person in control of the accounts. “He rang the bank to remove the other signatory, and within a month he began using the account to make himself payments,” said Lawson.

Between November 2018 and his arrest in June 2020, Meggison made 36 payments to his bank account. In total, he stole £102,699 ($129,182).

A detriment to young lives

In June, the former British Army Major pleaded guilty to one count of fraud by abuse of position at Winchester Crown Court. He received a 21-month suspended sentence.

Appearing before the Proceeds of Crime Act hearing, Meggison was told to pay back £145,543.46 ($183,075.77). From this amount, £108,256.23 ($136,173.02) will be paid in compensation to the cadet force. Meggison must also complete 200 hours of unpaid work.

it will take five to six years to recover financially

In a victim impact statement, Theresa Farmer, an administration officer for the cadet force, said that what had happened had been “a complete abuse of position.” Farmer added that it had impacted the unit and many young lives and that “it will take five to six years to recover financially.”

Defense lawyer Neil Tucker said that Meggison has repaid £9,000 ($11,320) and that he has £36,000 ($45,283) in savings to use. The Rifles regiment is also willing to loan him the money that can be repaid back.

Judge Paul Dugdale said at the sentencing that Meggison “had let the cadets down more than anyone else.”