Sisters to repay £220k after Gatwick Airport thefts

Two West Sussex sisters have been ordered to pay back nearly £220,000 after stealing items from duty free at Gatwick Airport.

Laura Epitropou and Georgina Epitropou, both from Crawley, were each jailed for two and a half years following a sentencing in September 2024.

Both sisters had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal and Laura Epitropou also admitted a charge of acquiring criminal property.

On Monday, the sisters were handed a confiscation order at Lewes Crown Court where Laura Epitropou was given one month to pay back £182, 090.99 while Georgina Epitropou has three months to pay back £37,487.85.

Most of the items, perfumes and cosmetics worth about £80,000, were sold online, while some were sold to specific purchasers.

The Epitropous were arrested boarding a flight from Belfast to Gatwick carrying £2,000 in stolen items in their suitcase.

The Crown Prosecution Service said bank records revealed the sisters had made £40,000 in 10 months.

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