Jailed, crooked Tesco boss who made thousands stealing from shop - by using in-store Post Office to send out parcels of stolen goods!

A disgraced Tesco manager made tens of thousands of pounds stealing products from his store and selling them online.

James Shovlin used the in-store Post Office facility to send parcels of stolen items to buyers on a daily basis.

The scam went on for almost four years, as the crooked worker netted £27,000.

Shovlin, 48, was jailed for 14 months at Airdrie Sheriff Court. 

He admitted stealing perfume, clothing, electrical goods, computer equipment and other items from the store in Cumbernauld between January 2016 and November 2020.

The court heard that Shovlin, of Kirkintilloch, near Glasgow, had worked at Tesco for 20 years and was a department manager.

In early 2020, senior management noticed a ‘significant’ amount of stock at the store had gone missing.

Employees were interviewed and bag searches took place at the start and end of shifts in an attempt to find the culprit. Lauren Cole, prosecuting, said: ‘Some members of staff raised suspicions about Shovlin and it was decided to use CCTV to monitor him from the beginning to the end of his shift.

‘He was seen to make numerous trips between the point of sale room and the training room.

‘He was walking in an unnatural way, carrying items on two occasions and looking out of a window constantly to ensure the coast was clear.

‘On one occasion he stared at the security cameras while putting hats and gloves in a basket that he pushed under a trolley.’

Shovlin was suspended in November 2020. It was found that, under the user name Celticyoda, he had been selling items via Ebay, Twitter and Instagram accounts.

Investigators were told he had boasted to a colleague that the best way to smuggle items out was via the in-store Post Office.

Ms Cole said: ‘It emerged the accused had used the Post Office on a daily basis, bringing in two or three brown paper parcels at a time. He told the manager there that he was selling toys online.’ 

Tesco bosses eventually reported Shovlin to police.

A search warrant was issued for his home and stolen items were seized from various rooms and the loft.

He was originally accused of stealing goods worth £45,000 but pleaded guilty to a charge that involved the figure of £27,000.

Sheriff Paul Haran told Shovlin: ‘This offending went on for a significant period and involved breach of positional trust.

‘The sums involved are also significant and for these reasons no alternative to custody is appropriate.’

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