A single mum was flogging pub stock from work on eBay because she "thought everybody was taking the items as well", magistrates heard. Claire Kay worked at Intaspec, Telford Court, Telford Drive, Newark, when she stole beer tap handles and lenses between February and June this year.
Kay wiped away tears as she pleaded guilty to theft by an employee when she appeared at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on Thursday (September 29). Her dishonestly came to light when another worker noticed in mid-May stock was going missing which had been ready to go out for delivery.
The stock included beer taps, parts and pub equipment to be distributed to pubs. Kay's colleague started monitoring CCTV, believing a member of staff had perhaps made a mistake. But it became a more regular problem, explained prosecutor Bethany Leigh.
READ MORE: Teenager was 'a walking zombie' after her stabbing was filmed on Snapchat
"So he (the other worker) kept a close eye on it," Miss Leigh added. "He noticed, from watching the CCTV, the defendant taking the items into the ladies' toilet, and was secreting them into the toilet."
She would them take away the items to sell on eBay. Further investigations located her seller name on eBay, posting the same missing equipment for sale.
Police were involved, leading to Kay's arrest. She said she was "taking the items because she thought everyone was doing it as well". She was single and "wanted to make some money", the court heard.
She admitted stealing the stock, which was estimated to be about £2,000 - the same amount she estimated she sold it on for. Mitigating, Helen Rooks told magistrates, Kay, 49, of Carmelita Avenue, Fernwood, Newark, had lost her good character and wished to tell the court how sorry she was for her actions.
After working for Intaspec for five years, the theft happened over three months of that time, when she had split from her husband after 20 years together and was financially struggling.
Kay was earning £10-an-hour on a 30-hour work week. "There was a bit of a culture within the company, Intaspec, which subcontracted for Interserve," said Miss Rooks. Unused items were either weighed or sold on, sometimes "quite openly", added Miss Rooks.
The defendant used her own email account through eBay. "She really got carried away, observing some other people doing it, the seed has been planted and she has done it herself," Miss Rooks went on. "She has re-mortgaged her property to pay off debts and took her children on holiday."
Now she has a new full-time job, the wages are better, but she is still entitled to some Universal Credit. Magistrates believed what happened was a one-off, she is moving forward, as they fined her £704. A victim surcharge of £70 was added and a costs order of £85.
READ NEXT:
- Ex-MasterChef star dealt cannabis as his life broke down
- New documentary charting seaside killing of John and Joan Stirland linked to Colin Gunn
- Colin Gunn interview tapes: His denials, how he was on holiday, and 'grieving'
- Fifth man charged with murder of Ricardo Cotteral after stabbing in Nottingham city centre
- Moment Colin Gunn told jury who convicted him 'thank you, you scumbags'
