Supermarket staff were today (Thurs) warned to sto

Supermarket staff were today (Thurs) warned to stop pilfering from their employers or face jail.

A 32-year-old mother of one was told the breach of trust involved in stealing more than pnds stlng 124 from Tescos merited a prison sentence.

However, the deeply religious defendant was spared a term behind bars because of ‘deeply disturbing’ family problems back in her native Nigeria.

London’s Southwark Crown Court heard Theresa Joseph was a ‘worthwhile’ member of the community but in September last year was stopped at the supermarket in Morning Lane, Hackney, as she left work with purloined chocolate bars, CDs, perfume and fruit.

The court was told that random searches had become a policy at the store because of a ‘huge’ problem of staff stealing.

Joseph, who fled Africa for London two years previously was said to have appeared to be ‘acting suspiciously.

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The defendant, who admitted theft, claimed a colleague convinced her such activity was the norm.

Ordering Joseph, of Kingsland High Road, Islington, to complete 12 months on a community rehabilitation programme, Judge Peter Fingret said: ‘Theft from an employer is an offence which is sufficiently serious to merit a lengthy sentence of imprisonment but I shall not impose such a sentence on you today.

‘I invite you, when you leave this court, to tell any of your friends and acquaintances that if they steal from their employers they will not be treated as you
are to be treated, because of the serious nature and breach of trust of stealing from employers.

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However, the judge said Joseph, now training to be a nurse, had no previous convictions and was unlikely to appear before the courts again.

‘You are highly thought of in your community and clearly had family problems that were deeply disturbing at the time.

‘You are not being let off lightly but being given the chance to establish what is said about you – that you are a worthwhile member of the community.

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David Emmanuel, defending, told the court the offence was an act of ‘stupidity’ and was ‘suggested’ by a colleague at the supermarket.

At the time, he said Joseph, a former travel agent, was under financial pressure as she sent money home to Nigeria to support her daughter.

He said the woman had fled Nigeria after the death of her husband, travelling through neighbouring African states where she was ‘assaulted, raped and beaten’ and had a ‘terrible time’ before arriving in this country.

Mr Emmanuel said Joseph had a ‘strong work ethic’ and strove to support her family.

ends