A Tesco employee brazenly stole thousands of pounds in a refund scam – and even carried on after her bosses quizzed her about it, a court has been told.
Appalled colleagues finally blew the whistle on Julie Evans who had also managed to entangle another customer service desk worker in her dishonest scheme.
The 53-year-old was jailed for eight months after admitting stealing a total of £6,000 from the super- store at Formby over a 12 month period.
Her former colleague, Linda Ford, whose much smaller role involved just £138 was given a 12 month community order and ordered to carry out 80 hours unpaid work after admitting theft.
Derek Jones, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court that Evans, of The Moorings, Lydiate, had been employed at the branch for 15 years and Ford for 11 years and both worked on the customer ser- vice desk where customers go for refunds.
Evans would scan items, usually clothing, and give customers a refund and put the items at the back of the kiosk. At a quiet time she would re-scan some items for a further refund and take the cash from the till.
Ford, 63, of Central Avenue, Birkdale, admitted pocketing refunds on three or four occasions, said Mr Jones.
In both June 2018 and January this year Evans was under suspicion for doing just that and was spoken to by management. She gave excuses on both occasions and management accepted her ver- sion of events.”
By the summer time, however, fellow workers were so concerned they spoke to management.
“A full audit was then launched over the previous 12 months and it was discovered that double refunds had been going on for that period.”
Evans eventually admitted what she had been doing and claimed to have a gambling habit. When arrested and quizzed by police she admitted taking cash, usually about £20 – £30, three or four times a week over 12 months.
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