Potter tour guide steals official gear worth £37,000
AN employee of the Harry Potter film studio tour who stole merchandise worth almost £37,000 was caught after colleagues noticed the items piling up under his desk.
Adam Hill stole wands, ties, badges, key rings and other branded items worth a total of £36,935 from the Warner Bros Studio Tour stockroom, the Crown Prosecution Service lawyers said.
The 36-year-old used online auction house ebay to advertise the memorabilia sold at The Making Of Harry Potter, a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the films.
Hill managed to sell 1,040 items, initially shipping them to buyers through the Post Office and later through his work post room.
The thefts came to light after colleagues noticed the magic-themed items appearing and then vanishing from Hill’s desk at work and reported him to their bosses.
His car was searched and 12 additional parcels of merchandise ready to be posted to ebay buyers were found in it.
Hertfordshire Police searched Hill’s home in St Neots, Cambridgeshire, and seized Harry Potter ties, key rings and badges along with envelopes and packaging.
Jan Muller, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “In a significant breach of trust, Adam Hill had the audacity to steal thousands of pounds of merchandise from Warner Bros in plain sight of his work colleagues.
“But they reported him after growing suspicious of the items constantly piling up under his desk.
“Subsequent scrutiny of Hill’s ebay and Paypal accounts revealed orders and payments received for goods which were found packaged up ready to send to buyers, giving him no option but to admit to his crimes.”
Hill admitted theft by employee and was sentenced at St Albans Crown Court yesterday to 14 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, and 250 hours of unpaid work.