Debenhams store worker jailed for stealing £16,000 from till

A staff member at Debenhams store in Inverness' Eastgate Centre was jailed for embezzling more than £16,000 in just 12 weeks.

Christopher Munro (28) of Wallace Place, Culloden embezzled the money by making false customer refunds.

He was seen on a CCTV camera pocketing the cash at a till after suspicion fell on him when investigators began checking cash and stock discrepancies Inverness Sheriff Court heard.

Depute Fiscal Karen Smith told the court today (Thursday) Munro had two previous convictions including one for a similar offence.

The court also heard he will appear in court on another similar charge next week,

Munro started work at Debenhams in May 2011 and within four months had been promoted to the role of senior sales advisor with responsibility for customer complaints and refunds.

Mrs Smith said the company were concerned about missing stock but this had nothing to do with Munro.

However, there were also cash discrepancies and in February 2012 an electronic journal showed there £600 had been made as a cash return from Munro’s till.

No receipts were found and CCTV footage of the transaction was reviewed and Munro was seen removing the cash from the till and placing it in his trouser pocket.

"Further investigations were carried out. He was spoken to by managers and he said he took the money."

The fiscal said the total missing from the till Munro had been using amounted to £16,360.

He admitted embezzling this sum from his employers between October 13, 2011 and January 5, 2012.

"When customers ask for a refund they are provided with a receipt. But Mr Munro was making false refunds and keeping the money and this was happening on quite a number of occasions," said Mrs Smith.

The fiscal added that on January 4 there were four transactions carried out at different times in excess of £1,000.

Duncan Henderson solicitor for Munro said Munro had one similar previous conviction and he accepted the court must be considering a custodial sentence.

"In my view he had no idea of the amount of money he had taken. He is currently employed as a rep on a self-employed basis and could repay the money at £500 per month."

Mr Henderson added that the social work report recommended a community payback order.

Sheriff Andrew Berry said he noted that Munro had done nothing about repaying the money and that he was due in the same court next Thursday on a similar matter.

"This is a serious breach of trust at considerable cost to your employers who saw fit to promote you.

"In view of your previous convictions and the gravity of this offence a custodial sentence is the only option."

Munro was jailed for four months.

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