Couple used child as 'decoy' to steal £750 worth of chocolates and teddy bears from Harrods, court hears

A pair of academics used their child as a 'decoy' to steal £750 worth of chocolates and teddy bears from Harrods, a court heard.

Dr Orlando Doehring, 36, and wife Dr Zichen Xue, 37, loaded their four year-old's buggy with goodies and stuffed toys during a trip to the famous department store on March 16 this year.

The court heard that Dr Doehring, who is an expert in artificial intelligence, and his wife collect teddy bears and had visited the shop to get their daughter's face painted.

Prosecutor Jennifer Gatland said: "This incident took place at around 4:30pm on 16 March. They were in Harrod's with their four-year-old child.

"Ms Xue was seen by security taking a number of toys, chocolates and teddy bears, placing them in a pushchair.

"At one stage they stopped short of the door and took items from the pushchair and placed them in a plastic bag.

"The child was carrying two cuddly mice, the female removed the two mice from the child and handed them to the male who placed them in a plastic bag."

The prosecutor told the court that the couple tried to make off with £754.99 worth of teddy bears, biscuits and chocolates before they were stopped by security.

She said: "Ms Xue agreed to having attended Harrods. They went to go to the face painting.

"She then stated she doesn't remember her time in Harrods.

"He said he was their with his wife and child, again for the face painting. He said that his wife collects teddy bears and that their house is full of them.

"He denied the intent to commit theft but apologised for their actions.

"They appear to have been working together, also there is the obvious concern about the fact that the child was present.

"It is arguable the child was used as a decoy. Certainly the pushchair was used to carry out this theft."

Ben Goodman, defending explained that the pair only decided to carry out the theft while they were in the shop and denied using their child as a cover.

He said that the two doctors had admitted the crime in police interview, adding: "They have both shown remorse right from the beginning. She was extremely emotional throughout the interview.

"Both have PhD degree, both have no previous convictions."

Mr Goodman explained that Xue was on medication that caused her to hallucinate.

"He works as a data analyst - his company works for pharmaceutical companies," he said.

Judge Devinder Sandhu said: "This is a strange case. You are people of means and it doesn't quite add up - what was going on that day?

"There is something that doesn't quite stand up in this case. You have both now lost your hitherto unblemished character."

Doehring and Xue of Rosebank, Holyport Road, Fulham both pleaded guilty to theft from a shop.

Xue was given a conditional discharge and Doehring was fined £300.

They were both ordered to pay prosecution costs.