A FOOTBALLER gambled away thousands of pounds belonging to a care home after he hit financial difficulties.

Paul Baistow, who used to play for Yacht Sports football club in Hamble, took his partner’s work phone and set about betting nearly £2,500 on Amazon Slots.

The phone belonged to Southampton-based provider Nobilis Care, who had days before the incident dismissed Baistow’s partner Beth McCarthy.

Southampton Magistrates’ Court heard that Baistow, an agency electrician, and his young family were facing financial problems after Ms McCarthy was told she was no longer employed by the company.

Prosecutor Jenny Hopson-Hill told the court that Ms McCarthy had not returned the mobile phone to her previous employer and when Baistow, 32, saw it he began betting £2438.77 online using the firm’s money.

She added: “He said he did what any every man would do in that situation and tried to get money for his family.

“He tried to get the money gambling but he did not win any money at all and soon realised what he did was hugely irresponsible.”

In a probation report compiled on Baistow, it found that after Ms McCarthy’s employment was terminated, she only received £23 in unpaid wages.

Mitigating, Louise Morgan told the court that Baistow, a former Weston Park Boys School pupil, was “completely distraught with his actions”.

She said: “His partner was let go from her job and did not receive her wages which put a strain on the family.

“He took it upon himself to do something about that.”

Ms Morgan added: “He was just trying to get money for his family.”

Magistrates’ said Baistow’s action could warrant prison due to the “serious consequences it has for the care home who will not get their money back”.

The Daily Echo contacted Nobilis Care, which declined to comment.

Baistow, of Fullerton Close, Southampton, was given a 12-month community order and told to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work. He was ordered to pay £1000 compensation.