David Atkinson, 59, conned investors after he set himself up as an independant financial advisor despite having a history of theft. More than 70 people put their trust and life savings in his investment schemes after he promised them profitable returns that turned out to be false. Atkinson, a father-of-two, even stole £200,000 from his own church where he acted as a treasurer, and pocketed the money to spend online in "fanciful" betting scams. Benjamin Lawrence, defending, said that Atkinson was "genuinely remorseful" and had intended to return the money but was a "pathological gambler".
Read more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/7449386/Accountant-who-stole-2.3m-including-church-funds-is-jailed.html
