Man handed suspended sentence after conviction for East Ham street gambling

A street gambler caught operating a street ruse known as the shell game in East Ham has received a suspended jail sentence.

Alex-dan Sinka, 23, of no fixed abode, was discovered in High Street North last Friday providing facilities for gambling, “namely three cups, a ball and mat”, which are excepted in the Gambling Act 2005.

The pedestrianised road has been plagued by several gangs in recent months encouraging people to gamble £20 on where a small ball ends up after being switched between three containers.

Police have recently been operating plain clothes patrols in order to target and catch offenders.

Sinka, who pleaded guilty to the charge, was sentenced to 14 days’ imprisonment suspended for two years at Thames Magistrates’ Court last Saturday.

He was also ordered to pay costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £115.