A trusted warehouse worker stole metal sheets worth almost £61,000 from his employer, a court has heard. With the help of an accomplice with a van, Deri Thomas spirited away more than 200 sheets from the firm's premises over the course of a fortnight in offending a judge described as "planned, premeditated, although not sophisticated".
Trusted employee abused access
The 47-year-old defendant's barrister told Cardiff Crown Court his client was in a "dark place" at the time and said he knows he had brought shame on his family: "A family that has never been in trouble before – not even a speeding ticket".
Anisha Rai, prosecuting, told the court that at the time of the offending in September and October 2023 Thomas had worked for Flamgard Engineering Ltd in Pontypool for 15 years and was a trusted warehouse employee. She said as part of his role the defendant had keys to the warehouse, and said it was part of his job to ensure the premises were securely locked at the end of the day.
CCTV revealed the scheme
The court heard that in October 2023 a stocktake revealed metal sheets were missing from the firm's inventory and a review of CCTV security footage was carried out. The prosecutor said it emerged that on four occasions in late September and early October the defendant had used a forklift truck to move metal sheets to a corner of the Flamgard yard and then, once all the other employees had gone home, a flatbed van would arrive and the sheets would be loaded on board and driven away.
The thefts were reported to the police and Thomas was arrested, answering "no comment" to all questions asked in interview. The court heard a total of 202 metal sheets worth almost £61,000 were taken. The sheets have never been recovered and the identity of the van driver is unknown.
Guilty plea and sentence
Deri Thomas, of Bakery Close, Talywain, Pontypool, pleaded guilty to theft by an employee part-way through his trial. He has one previous conviction for failing to surrender in 2005 for which he was fined.
Kevin Seal, for Thomas, said following the ending of a relationship his client found himself in a "dark place emotionally and financially" and subsequently gave in to "temptation". He said the defendant knows he has brought shame on his family. The barrister said Thomas comes from a small community where "everybody knows" about his conviction, adding: "It was a mistake he made and a mistake he is going to have to live with for the rest of his life."
Judge Daniel Williams said it was clear the defendant had been "highly trusted" by his former employers and he described the thefts as "planned, premeditated, although not sophisticated, offending". He said he had read in the pre-sentence report about the debts Thomas had found himself in following the ending of his relationship, and about his drug use. With an 8% discount for his guilty plea the defendant was sentenced to 22 months in prison suspended for two years and was ordered to complete 250 hours of unpaid work.
