Harrods guard jailed for £11k clothing theft

A security guard has been jailed for nine months after stealing clothes worth more than £11,000 from Harrods.

Abdishakur Osman, 22, of Meesons Lane in Grays, Thurrock, previously admitted stealing clothing items worth £11,753 from his employer on 15 June 2023.

On Wednesday, Thames Magistrates' Court was told that Osman had been employed by a security company, working as a security guard at Harrods Studio at the time.

Alex Darke, defending, told the hearing the theft had been "spur of the moment" and there "wasn't a lot of planning involved", but district judge Susan Holdham rejected this claim before sentencing Osman.

The court was told there were "problems at home" for Osman and the theft had been "financially motivated".

Osman did not want his mother to discover the stolen goods at their house and so his friend sold them, Ms Darke said.

"He's in trouble with his mum, judge," she added.

Prosecutor Ola Herbert said: "Stock had gone missing in July 2023 that was returned by the defendant.

"That caused his employers to make further inquiries and they found in June 2023, after having carried out a stock check, they discover that over £11,000 of clothing had gone missing between 14 June 2023 and 15 June 2023."

She said that on both occasions about £11,000 worth of clothing had been taken but items stolen in the second theft had not been recovered.

The court heard the business student could be seen in CCTV footage "browsing the stock room" and placing items in bags before taking them outside.

"You can see him selecting each item and bagging them up," the prosecutor said.

Addressing the defendant, the judge said: "What makes it more serious is that you were actually employed as a security guard there to guard, to protect these items, and you, in gross breach of trust, stole them yourself.

"I also find it very difficult to believe that this was caused entirely by your desire to help your mother pay rent."

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