Emma Tennelle Lillie guilty of stealing poker machine winnings

A Mountain Creek woman who played another patron’s poker machine while he was at the bar gambled away his $100 winnings. Here’s why.

A Mountain Creek woman who drunkenly gambled away someone else’s pokie winnings has been fined $500 for stealing.

Emma Tennelle Lillie, 42, pleaded guilty in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on September 26, 2022, to stealing.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Mark Burrell said a man had been playing two poker machines at Caloundra Hotel in the early hours of May 29, 2022.

“The victim stated he was playing two poker machines and walked away to get last drinks,” Senior Constable Burrell said.

“When he returned to the poker machine he discovered his winnings were missing from the poker machine.

“The victim reported $100 worth of money was stolen.”

Emma Tennelle Lillie pleaded guilty in Maroochydore Magistrates Court to stealing. Picture: Social media

The court heard police reviewed CCTV footage which showed Lillie playing the poker machine next to the victim and when he left to go to the bar she played his winnings before returning to her own machine.

Duty lawyer David Crews said Lillie, who works as a head chef at a number of aged care facilities in Nambour, was “very drunk at the time”.

Lillie was fined $500 and ordered to repay $100 to the victim.

No convictions were recorded.