Supermarket worker 'stole to fund lifestyle'

Jay Michael Ross developed a system to sneak expensive electrical goods such as iPads and computer games past security, the court was told on Thursday, January 15.
Helen Waite, prosecuting, said that when police raided the Berkeley Road, Newbury, home of the 20-year-old, they found an Aladdin’s Cave of stolen goods together worth £1,156.96.
She told the court that Mr Ross’ colleagues at Sainsbury’s in Newbury became suspicious of his furtive behaviour and his activities came to be monitored on the store CCTV.
Ms Waite said: “He was seen taking breaks when he shouldn’t; he was seen in the car park going to the recycling area; he walked off with property and returned without it. His behaviour piqued people’s interest and he was then subjected to an internal investigation.”
Knowing the game was up, Mr Ross reportedly told investigators: “It’s been good working with you guys.”
He then directed them to a stolen iPad in his bag, magistrates were told.
But the true extent of his systematic thieving only became apparent when police raided his home, said Ms Waite.
She added: “There, they found two brand new iPads, still with the Sainsbury’s labelling on; a Samsung Galaxy Type 4 touch screen computer, a number of video games and other items. A lot of it was still in its packaging.
“He told police he concealed stock in an empty box for carrying newspapers, taking it outside the store and collecting it later.”
Although he had been employed at the store for a year, Mr Ross maintained that he had only stolen the goods the police discovered, and not more, the court heard.
Mr Ross admitted stealing goods worth £1,156.96 between December 4 and December 13 last year.
Ms Waite said he told officers he had intended to sell the goods after getting into debt.
He has no previous convictions and Adonis Daniel, defending, said: “He left on December 18 last year and hasn’t been able to find work since then. It’s unlikely he will find work in the retail industry with this conviction on his record.
“He made the bad decision to solve his financial difficulties by stealing. In many respects this was very unsophisticated. He put his hands up to it and made full and frank admissions.”
A probation officer told magistrates Mr Ross “had been living a lifestyle he couldn’t afford” and had tried to fund it by stealing.
Mr Ross was made subject to a 12 month community order and ordered to carry out 100 hours’ unpaid community work.
In addition he was ordered to pay £85 costs plus a statutory surcharge of £60.
Finally, he was ordered to pay compensation of £44.95 to Sainsbury's for the electrical goods which were not still sealed in their original packaging and could therefore not be resold.