Duty manager of Barnstaple's Lidl steals from store

The former duty manager of a Lidl store in Barnstaple has admitted stealing nearly £200 worth of stock after missing out on promotion.

Thomas Glover, 30, of Brightlycott Farm, Shirwell, Barnstaple, pleaded guilty to the theft when he appeared before North Devon Magistrates' Court on Friday.

He admitted stealing three heart rate monitors, two tyre pressure gauges, four instrument cables, a radio weather station, USB video grabbers, a HD satellite receiver, a car cover and an unspecified amount of sandwiches.

The cost of the items reached a total of £187.89.

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Prosecutor Karen Ball said Glover had been employed at Lids for two and half years and was a duty manager.

She said: "On the day of the theft he was seen arriving at work with a rucksack, and took the rucksack into the warehouse where he concealed it between two wooden pallets."

She added that an employee who had noticed this told the store manager.

They then watched the defendant leave for the day but he then went around to the warehouse to collect the rucksack which was clearly then full.

The police were called and after they searched his property they found the stolen items in a cupboard.

Glover said during a police interview that the theft was "a bit of a stupid moment".

He added that he was "totally fed up at work" and that he had been promised promotion and increased hours which never happened.

He said he had stolen the items to pay off household bills.

Glover, who was unrepresented during the hearing, said: "Everything that was just said was accurate, and I am ready to face the sentence."

He confirmed he is now employed by an agency and is working at a factory.

Magistrates made clear that the theft was more serious as Glover was in a position of trust as an employee of the premises he stole from.

The defendant was sentenced to 40 hours unpaid work, told to pay £85 in court costs and a £60 victim surcharge.