Punters and staff looked on in disbelief as angry 26 year-old Alek Gjjekaj, who had started feeding £200 into four slot machines simultaneously, picked up a stool and smashed three of them, in a £15,000 wrecking spree.
Scaffolder Gjjekaj pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage to the slots in his local Coral's Bookmakers, Clapham High Street, Clapham on December 15, last year.
Inner London Crown Court heard gambling addict Gjjekaj had blown £100,000 and was still £30,000 in debt due to betting which also wrecked the relationship he had with the mother of his nine month-old child.
Prosecutor Mr James Benson told the court Coral's staff took £200 cash out of the defendant's bank card which he then began feeding into the four machines, becoming increasingly angry and frustrated at the lack of a pay-out.
"He picked up a stool to chest height and smashed it down on the first machine," explained Mr Benson. "He continued to smash two more machines ignoring the shouts of the manager."
Gjjekaj fled, but was traced through his bank card and when quizzed by police admitted he was angry about losing money on the video machines.
He was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for two years, placed under probation supervision for two years and ordered to pay £5,000 compensation and pay £150 costs.
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