A gambling addict is suing William Hill for £2million after accusing the bookmaker of not stopping him from placing bets.
Greyhound trainer Graham Calvert said he lost his savings of £500,000 and his marriage after taking out huge losing bets with the bookie.
He tried to ban himself from William Hill but said that, when he was in the grip of his gambling frenzy, he took out huge bets for the 'buzz' and bet more than £400,000 in just one week.
When his wife found out how much he owed last December she decided to leave him, according to a High Court writ.
Now Mr Calvert, of Houghton-le- Spring, Sunderland, faces losing his home, and has been threatened with violence from people he has borrowed money from.
He is suing William Hill for £2,052,972 because he claims the bookmaker breached its duty of care by encouraging him to continue to gamble, although he had asked to be banned as part of the company's self exclusion policy.
Mr Calvert financed betting on two accounts with William Hill by borrowing £1,420,000 from four 'business associates', taking out a £23,500 bank loan, and remortgaging the family home by £100,000. He has repaid £24,113 and owes £1,518,000 to creditors.
Mr Calvert claims to suffer from 'problem gambling', a disorder in which he has an irresistible urge to place bets, and cannot control his impulses.
He said he developed the disorder at the beginning of last year, when he got a taste for placing high stake bets on sports events.
His real problems began when he started opening accounts with bookmakers and was able to place bets over the phone.
William Hill is fighting his claim. The case is set for trial at the High Court in spring 2008.
Greyhound trainer Graham Calvert said he lost his savings of £500,000 and his marriage after taking out huge losing bets with the bookie.
He tried to ban himself from William Hill but said that, when he was in the grip of his gambling frenzy, he took out huge bets for the 'buzz' and bet more than £400,000 in just one week.
When his wife found out how much he owed last December she decided to leave him, according to a High Court writ.
Now Mr Calvert, of Houghton-le- Spring, Sunderland, faces losing his home, and has been threatened with violence from people he has borrowed money from.
He is suing William Hill for £2,052,972 because he claims the bookmaker breached its duty of care by encouraging him to continue to gamble, although he had asked to be banned as part of the company's self exclusion policy.
Mr Calvert financed betting on two accounts with William Hill by borrowing £1,420,000 from four 'business associates', taking out a £23,500 bank loan, and remortgaging the family home by £100,000. He has repaid £24,113 and owes £1,518,000 to creditors.
Mr Calvert claims to suffer from 'problem gambling', a disorder in which he has an irresistible urge to place bets, and cannot control his impulses.
He said he developed the disorder at the beginning of last year, when he got a taste for placing high stake bets on sports events.
His real problems began when he started opening accounts with bookmakers and was able to place bets over the phone.
William Hill is fighting his claim. The case is set for trial at the High Court in spring 2008.
