Warehouse workers steal £13,000 worth of fish

Two managers at a warehouse in Paignton were caught stealing thousands of pounds worth of fish destined for customers across the UK. Complaints were raised when deliveries from two transport firms in the town arrived weighing less than they were supposed to, a court heard.

CCTV was installed at the depot and captured local men John Gardner and Michael Upham opening boxes and stealing fish. The men hid the seafood at the back of the warehouse before taking their illegal catch away in other vehicles, probably to sell.

The men got away with nearly £13,000 of stolen fish before being caught. One of the businesses said the reputational loss to them was massive and they have been visiting customers trying to repair the damage and regain trust.

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Gardner, 55, of St Marychurch Road, Torquay, and Upham, 61, of Northfields Lane in Brixham, both admitted theft by employee of £12,821 and have been sentenced at Exeter Crown Court. They were each given a suspended sentence with unpaid work and compensation.

Prosecutor Nigel Wraith said Gardner was a manager at Cornwall Transport Ltd and Upham at DFDS. The two companies distribute fish from markets and wholesalers to businesses around the UK, he said. The South West part of both companies is based at a depot in Paignton.

"The businesses received a number of complaints from customers that deliveries were short on weight," said Mr Wraith. An investigation by the firms pinpointed a problem in Paignton and CCTV was secretly installed in the warehouse to watch staff.

Gardner and Upham were seen "opening boxes and stealing fish," said the prosecutor. "Gardner on a number of occasions over the course of September 2022 either cut the top or removed straps to access boxes of seafood and removed the items without permission." Upham also helped himself.

The pair put the fish in bags and boxes and hid them at the back of the warehouse until it was safe to take them away. Gardner also admitted a second charge of theft which involved him stealing some diesel.

Upham told police Gardner had coerced him doing it but there had not been any threats. A commercial director from DFDS said in a statement that Upham had been a trusted employee for 20 years.

Customers felt betrayed and angry when they discovered what had been going on. A company director at Cornwall Transport Ltd said it had forked out many thousands on its investigation and in costs to bring the case. He said total losses, including reputational damage, were about £50,000.

Martin Salloway, defending Upham, said he now had a new job and could pay compensation. Paul Dentith, for Gardner, said his client had no money and survived on benefits.

Judge James Adkin said the men were "caught red-handed" stealing fish. They were both given 14-month suspended sentences, with 120 hours of unpaid work and a two-month night-time curfew.

Upham must pay back £6,000 in compensation and Gardner £1,200 because of his financial situation.