Labourer overpaid by £44,000 decides to treat himself to a cocaine and booze binge
Steven Burke failed to flag up the banking error choosing to blow the money on luxury goods instead
A LABOURER splashed out on cocaine and booze binges after he was mistakenly overpaid by £44,000, a court heard.
Steven Burke, 43, also bought a car and jewellery and stayed at top hotels.
He was due to receive £446.60 from a company.
But when he checked his bank account he realised the decimal point had been put in the wrong place.
It meant that he was instead paid £44,660.
But Burke, of Scarborough, North Yorks, did not report the blunder and embarked on a wild spending spree.
By the time the error was discovered, Burke, who lives alone, had blown £28,000.
Prosecutor Katy Varlow told magistrates: “He spent the money on a car, an electronic cigarette, hotel rooms, designer clothes, a gold chain, cocaine and vodka as well as online gambling.
“He failed to do the proper thing and report the mistake to the bank.