Apprentice stole £2k of shoes from Northampton’s Crockett & Jones

A former apprentice at Northampton shoe manufacturers Crockett & Jones has admitted stealing £2,000 worth of goods from his employer to fund his cannabis habit.
By Callum Jones
Published 4th Apr 2013, 18:28 BST
Crockett and Jones shoes, made at a factory in Perry Street, Northampton, sell for more than £200.Crockett and Jones shoes, made at a factory in Perry Street, Northampton, sell for more than £200.
Crockett and Jones shoes, made at a factory in Perry Street, Northampton, sell for more than £200.

Sully Illing, aged 18, of Gillsway, Kingsthorpe, Northampton, stole 10 pairs of high quality shoes on November 1 last year.

The teenager had been working at the shoe firm as an apprentice pattern cutter since August and was caught after a manager at the firm noticed the shoes were being sold on eBay.

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Northampton Magistrates’ court heard today that Illing was using the money he received from selling the shoes to buy cannabis.

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Claire McCarthy, defending, said Illing had started using cannabis after one of his best friends died suddenly two years ago.

The solicitor said Illing was using all his wages to buy cannabis and therefore decided to sell the shoes to get extra money.

She said: “He made the ridiculous decision to put a couple of pairs of shoes on eBay and it then became 10 pairs.”

Illing was sentenced to 80 hours unpaid work. He must pay £2,000 compensation to Crockett & Jones. Costs of £85 and victim surcharge of £60.

Related topics:Northampton