Thief ‘scared’ of jail spared a spell inside
A DELIVERY driver who stole £62,000worth of children’s toys from his employer to sell on his market stall has avoided jail after telling a judge he was ‘very scared’ of going to prison.
Usman Humaydun, 33, took unsold stock he should have returned to his bosses over a two year period before selling it on his Sunday market stall.
Police investigated after Manchesterbased Spot Promotions Limited carried out stocktakes, which revealed large numbers of goods were missing.
A customer also tipped bosses off that their merchandise was being sold from Humaydun’s stall.
Manchester Crown Court was told he kept two large storage containers in a warehouse in Failsworth, Oldham, to store stolen toys and gadgets.
In a statement to police, Asiffa Gadatra who runs Spot Promotions, said she was ‘completely shocked’ by the thefts and said she was ‘distressed that somebody she trusted, somebody she believed to be working hard, was in fact abusing his position in the company.’
The firm lost a total of £23,000 due to Humaydun’s thefts, the court was told.
Humaydun, a married father-of-one from Blackley, admitted theft.
He was handed an eight-month jail sentence, suspended for a year.
Humaydun said he stole the goods as he had credit card debts of up to £10,000.
The court heard he had been employed by the firm for ten years and was one of three drivers who would deliver gadgets to petrol stations around the country.
Humaydun would also pick up items which failed to sell or were damaged and was expected to return them to the factory.
In mitigation Humaydun’s lawyer Simon Blakeborough said his wages had been reduced, which he ‘resented.’
He added: “He has a family, who all support him but are disappointed in his behaviour.
“The money he made he was attempting to use to pay off his debts.
“He was working alone and he accepts this wasn’t sophisticated at all.
“He would also use the money to help out with family weddings and his partners sick father.
“This offending wasn’t extreme, and he wasn’t using the money to fund an extravagant lifestyle.
“When he was arrested with this offence, he complied straight away, and gave the officers the keys to the storage containers and he made full and frank admissions in interview.
“He is determined to stay out of trouble. He is very scared there could be a prison sentence.”
Humaydun was also ordered to complete 120 hours unpaid work.