Abandoned gambler spared prison

Hubbard-Beale was abandoned by his wife at Gatwick Airport

A wheelchair-bound gambling addict who absconded to Spain before he could be sentenced for financial offences was turned in to police by his wife.

Stroke victim David Hubbard-Beale, who admitted offences in 2003, was given a suspended jail term at Hove Crown Court on Thursday because of ill-health.

The 55-year-old returned to the UK in July with his wife, Pamela, but she abandoned him at Gatwick Airport.

Hubbard-Beale, formerly of Eastbourne, has since lived in a nursing home.

Judge Cedric Joseph said Hubbard-Beale's actions were "thoroughly dishonest and devious", but said he would be better off staying at the care home.

You ran off in a cowardly fashion to Spain Judge Cedric Joseph

He added: "I suspend a prison sentence here with more regard to the difficulties that you would cause to the prison service than sympathy for you."

Judge Joseph told him: "It's an aggravating factor that having pleaded guilty you weren't man enough to face up to the punishment which you knew was coming your way.

"You ran off in a cowardly fashion to Spain."

'Pitiful state'

Defence counsel Nicola Shannon said Hubbard-Beale was "addicted to gambling and was effectively willing to do anything to sustain a credit line that would allow him to continue to bet".

But she said he was in a "pitiful state" after his stroke left him paralysed down one side of his body, incontinent, unable to communicate, and dependent on others.

She added: "His return to the UK came rather abruptly when he was brought to Gatwick Airport by his wife and effectively, at that stage, abandoned."

Hubbard-Beale, formerly of St Kitts Drive, was declared bankrupt in 1992 and again in 1998, but went on to commit finance offences, which also included obtaining credit while bankrupt, between 2000 and 2001.

The court heard he owed more than £23,000 to three companies after giving them false information to receive credit.

He also failed to declare three offshore accounts totalling £32,665.

The 21-month sentence was suspended for two years.