A CHAMPION bowler who emptied over £60,000 from her parents’ bank account has been jailed.

Michelle Cooper, 30, used internet banking to pocket the cash from her elderly parents to feed a gambling addiction back in May this year.

In total, she managed to steal £61,250 from a £100,000 inheritance that her father received.

At Kilmarnock Sheriff Court, it was previously revealed that Cooper, of Kilwinning’s River Walk, initially ran up debts of £8,000.

Cooper’s dad withdrew the money from the account to clear the debt.

Thereafter he called the bank to cancel the account knowing his daughter had access to it but was persuaded to keep the internet banking system open.

But his jobless daughter continued to steal from the account, which she admitted to her father.

Cooper, a baton bearer for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, and her parents went to Saltcoats Police Office to admit the offence.

The court heard how the bank made a full repayment to Cooper’s parents.

Irvine Times:

The couple were present in court as their daughter appeared in the dock.

After previously pleading guilty, Cooper returned to the dock on Monday, November 14 for sentencing.

James Irvine, defending, said that Cooper committed the offences following the break-up of a relationship.

He said Cooper’s plan was to gamble the money, repay it and move away from the area.

Mr Irvine said Cooper’s father was prepared to accept the £8,000 loss and would not have informed the authorities had it remained that amount.

The solicitor told presiding Sheriff David Hall: “I appreciate given the nature of the charge it has to be treated seriously and it is being treated seriously by her.

“Her parents are in court and offer her continued support.

“She accepts there has to be a price paid here. She’s fit to carry out unpaid work and that might offer her some benefit.”

But Sheriff Hall saw only one outcome appropriate.

He said: “Over a period of four days you stole £61,000 from your parents internet bank account.

“This was money that was received by your father and fortunately for them your parents were repaid but that is no thanks to you.

“You committed this offence when they had already bailed you out and it’s clear you went back and stole the rest of the money.

“It’s an extremely serious matter and I’m satisfied there’s no alternative to a custodial sentence here.”

Cooper was sentenced to eight months in prison.