GAMBLING spree ends in 16-year jail term

A pathological gambler who robbed 13 Adelaide businesses in six months to feed his habit, has been jailed for 16 years. Juan Mario Crescenzi, 25, developed a pathological addiction to pokies four years ago. Desperate to feed that addiction, Crescenzi robbed 13 businesses across Adelaide in six months last year. District Court Judge Peter Herriman said a psychologists' report on Crescenzi provided a "frightening insight into the mind of a pathological gambler". Crescenzi told the psychologist of his pokie addiction: "When I win there's lights everywhere, there's mirrors... it's surreal." Judge Herriman said Crescenzi had chosen soft targets such as hairdressing salons, and robbed only females, some of whom had to quit work or seek psychiatric treatment. Judge Herriman sentenced Crescenzi to 16 years' jail, with a non-parole period of nine years.