EDWIN Eglen was celebrating after a big win on the horses, but the following day his friend Dean Ablett stole £200 of these winnings from his wallet. The men had been together at the betting shop when Eglen backed a winner, Fenland magistrates heard. Able

EDWIN Eglen was celebrating after a big win on the horses, but the following day his friend Dean Ablett stole £200 of these winnings from his wallet.

The men had been together at the betting shop when Eglen backed a winner, Fenland magistrates heard.

Ablett visited his friend the following day and took the cash, and was back in the bookies when Eglen challenged him over the missing money.

Back at Eglen's flat, Ablett denied he had taken the £200, but he was found in possession of 10 £20 notes at the police station, said prosecutor Andrew Williams.

Ablett, 42, of Post Office Lane, Wisbech, admitted stealing the money on September 16.

Mitigating, Martin Newton said Ablett had been due to visit his children and took the money with the intention of buying them presents.

"He realised what he had done was foolish and intended to return the money," he said.

"He accepts what he did was wrong."

Ordering Ablett to do 100 hours' unpaid community work, magistrates' chairman Alan Jones told him: "This was a friend who trusted you.