For most, a trip to the casino is a bit of harmless fun, a night of chance where you hope luck is on your side. But for Sgt Surendrakumar Tamling, that roll of the dice cost him not just his money, but his entire 22-year Army career.
A trusted soldier stationed in Cyprus, Tamling was in charge of military funds as a postal and courier operator. But instead of safeguarding the money, he took a staggering £8,500 from the Army post office and gambled it all away in a desperate bid to clear his debts. The outcome? A crushing loss and an inevitable downfall.
A Gamble He Thought He’d Win
When confronted, the 43-year-old sergeant admitted everything. He hadn’t tried to cover his tracks, perhaps because, in his mind, there was no need. Tamling, a married father of two, believed he wouldn’t get caught because he was convinced “this time I am going to win”. It was the classic mindset of a gambling addict, as noted by the judge who presided over his case at the military court in Catterick, North Yorkshire.
But luck wasn’t on his side.
Between 16th and 19th February last year, he was the only one with access to the safe’s key. By 18th February, the temptation became too much. He took the money, headed straight for the casino, and put it all on the line. Within hours, it was gone.
‘An Inevitable Discovery’
The court heard that this was not a sophisticated crime, it was never going to go unnoticed. “It was absolutely inevitable that you would be caught,” said Assistant Judge Advocate General Andrew Smith.
But despite the gravity of the situation, Tamling didn’t try to deflect blame or create an elaborate cover story. The moment he was questioned, he confessed. His colleagues were stunned, with many expressing deep concern over his actions.
“You admitted what you had done, you were very upset about it, and you pleaded guilty at the first opportunity,” the judge told him.
Tamling’s wife, friends, and colleagues stood by him, understanding the grip his gambling addiction had on him, but he was given a stark warning: he couldn’t let them down again.
The Consequences
The court’s verdict was swift. Sgt Tamling was dismissed from the Army—a devastating end to a previously unblemished career. In addition, he was ordered to repay the full amount he stole (£8,572) and sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for 12 months. Alongside that, he must complete 120 hours of unpaid work.
A lifetime in the military, gone in a matter of hours at a casino table.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of gambling addiction and the risks of financial desperation. For Sgt Tamling, what started as a hope of clearing his debts ended with the loss of his career, his reputation, and a lesson learned the hardest way possible.
