Richey Blows £1K a night in Casino Spree

And the "fed up" ex con, who goes to the pub every day admits he is tormented by thoughts of suicide.

He said, " This week, I lost £1000 in one night. I was gutted."

"I had started with £400 and made the mistake of putting my card in the machine to get more money out when my luck was down.

I took out £600 more and lost the lot. The trouble is I am so bored that going to the casino is the only pleasure I have. "It's where my friends go--it's where I have a good time...until I lose."

 Richey is still unemployed and has been unable to establish a normal life since his return from the US after 21 years behind bars.

He gets £53 a weel income support -- but pays mum Eileen £50 rent.

His former wife Wendy Amerud, 50, has returned to Minnesota to sell her home so she can fund a permanent move to Scotland.

He said, "All the time I was in jail, I pictured myself with a job and a nice house but instead I am feeling fed up."

"I usually just stay in the house, unless I've got a meeting at the job centre or with social security. It's up to me to change things but I'm finding it very hard."

"Its easier to stay home even though I'm almost making it like my new prison cell, which is why I go to the pubs."

"I am still having suicidal thoughts"

"I thought they would pass but they haven't."

Richey who has a heart condition told how he was denied incapacity benefit because of a lack of National Insurance contributions.

He said, "I explained I'd been on death row but it didn't make any difference."

Richey was convicted of killing two year old Cythina Collins in an arson attack in Ohio.

He was released after a plea deal with prosecutors and returned to Scotland in January.

The Scottish Sun.

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