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.
“Mr Burke said he believed he had been the victim of a cyber crime when he was interviewed by police.”
Burke received an email from the York-based firm telling him about the mistake, but he claimed he could not remember reading it.
He admitted receiving wrongful credit at Scarborough magistrates’ court and will be sentenced later.
