Pokies machine 'forced'

Caine Allan Nichols was shocked when he found out from Junee jail that he was being asked to plead to such a charge.

“The machine was unlocked already,” he told Albury Local Court via a video link.

“I just opened it and took the money.”

Nichols had initially pleaded guilty to a single charge of larceny over his theft of $790 from the poker machine at Brady’s Railway Hotel on May 31.

Police withdrew a second charge of goods in custody, but introduced a new count of do anything likely to interfere with a machine’s operation. Nichols, 33, indicated he wasn’t happy with the new charge.

But moments later he changed his mind.

“Let’s just do it then,” he told magistrate Rodney Brender, “let’s just plead guilty.’

Nichols was handed a three-month jail term for his crimes.

Having been in custody since June 6, Nichols’ term will expire on September 5.

Police said Nichols entered the pub around lunch time and began playing the “Queen of the Nile” machine, known as No.18.

He was seen to put a large number of notes through the machine.

When No.18 was audited at the end of the day it was found to be short $790.

Police said CCTV footage showed Nichols and a friend. At one point, Nichols forced open the coin-return part of the machine.

Once he has got into the machine, Nichols is seen using the money he stole to continue to play the machine.

Nichols was ordered to pay the hotel compensation of $790.