A £500 winning football betting slip was stolen - and then cashed in

A police investigation has been launched after a £500 winning betting slip which the punter dropped was later cashed in. It happened at an unnamed betting shop in Trafford earlier this month.

Shortly before 11.50am on Thursday, January 4, the victim, a man in his 30s, had placed a £500 bet on there to be more than 2.5 goals in a football match featuring the Italian giants Juventus at a shop in Stretford.

That night the Serie A side beat Salernitana 6-1 in the Coppa Italia which would have landed the punter around £750 - roughly £250 in winnings and their £500 stake back.

Try MEN Premium now with our amazing New Year offer... just click here to give it a go.

However, the Manchester Evening News understands it is believed he dropped the slip in the shop where placed the bet on Chester Road. It was later cashed in for a cash-out price of £400, before the Juventus game had finished, at a different shop in Manchester city centre.

It was reported to Greater Manchester Police (GMP) who have recorded the incident as a 'theft by finding' and which officers are now investigating.

They have today released an image of a man they would believe 'may hold vital information' about the crime, and who they would like to speak to in connection with the alleged theft.

Neighbourhood Inspector Scott Wolstenholme said: “The slip could easily have been handed in and has ultimately deprived someone of a large amount of money, and we welcome any information that leads to an arrest.

“We have neighbourhood officers out and about across the Trafford district, so if anyone has any concerns or wants to report a crime, please speak to them.”

Information can be reported online on the GMP website or by calling 101 and quoting the log number