Gambling addict David Stuggs has donated a quarter of his £1.5million winnings to the staff at Gamblers Anonymous who failed to cure his addiction.
“If they’d have succeeded in getting me back on the straight and narrow, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” the 37-year-old Wakefield divorcee told waiting reporters as he popped open the champagne at a press conference yesterday.
Sipping Cristal from a mug, the unemployed former office worker revealed how he almost quit gambling after three months at GA.
“It was touch and go for a while there,” he said, sitting on the bonnet of his brand new Mercedes. “They had me standing in front of other gamblers confessing to how I’d stolen from my mother, ex-wife and even my kids’ piggy bank to fund my habit.
“I felt shamed, embarrassed and, to be honest, completely worthless. My wife had left me, the kids had disowned me and my boss, after catching me with my fingers in the till, had given me the sack. I had nowhere else to turn.
“Gamblers Anonymous took me in and, hey, they almost had me. I’d not put on a bet for more than two months when I thought, what the hell, you can’t take it with you. And went on a three-day bender.”
A run of luck at the casino followed by several long-odds accumulators at more than a dozen betting shops on the high street saw Mr Stuggs win approaching £900,000 by the end of his second day.
“I went for broke at Aintree with some big big bets followed by another trip to casino and, well, the rest is history,” said a delighted Mr Stuggs said.
Yesterday, he handed over a cheque for £330,000 to the voluntary workers at Wakefield Gamblers Anonymous.
Mentor Sue Waldron, 48, herself a former gambling addict and lead counsellor with the organisation, admitted to being “in two minds” about the donation.
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m really pleased for David, but it’s not quite what we had in mind when he first came through our doors. We initially considered rejecting the payment but then we have our work cut out at the moment with our current clients.
“Many of those on the course with David were aware of his desire to return to gambling, but we successfully dissuaded them from joining him and placing bets on the horses he tipped as ‘sure things.’ After this unexpected turn of events, it is they who are in need of further counselling at the moment.”
Ladbrokes spokesman Derek Cheadle said he was “over the moon” with David’s good fortune despite his Warne Street bookmakers in the town being stung for more than £30,000 in less than two hours.
“I’ve nothing but admiration for the courage of his convictions,” said a beaming Mr Cheadle. “A lesser man would have quit but David showed what can be achieved with a never-say-die attitude. Okay we lost a few quid, but this was a great victory for the little man. He’s had the ride of his life and who can begrudge his moment in the spotlight?”
Mr Stuggs is planning a two-month vacation with his new girlfriend Jenny-Lee, 22, in Las Vegas, with a view to investing his new found fortune back into the gaming industry.
“I’m on a lucky streak at the moment and I don’t intend to let is slip away like I have done in the past,” he said.
We asked Mrs Waldron if The News Grind could do anything to help promote her group’s cause. She said: “Well you could mention our website … for what it’s worth.”
If anyone with gambling problems like Mr Stuggs can find out more about the treatment available by contacting Gambler’s Anonymous through their website www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk
