Harrods security guard who stole £11,000 of clothes ‘is in trouble with his mum’

A Harrods security guard who stole more than £11,000 worth of clothes told a judge he is already in enough trouble – with his mum.

Abdishakur Osman, 22, had been employed by a security company, working as a security guard at Harrods Studio at the time of the theft.

Prosecutor Ola Herbert told Thames Magistrates’ Court: ‘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 June 14, 2023, and June 15, 2023.’

She said that on both occasions around £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 was caught on CCTV ‘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.

The court heard there were ‘problems at home’ for Osman and the theft had been ‘financially motivated’.

Alex Darke, defending, told the hearing it had been ‘spur of the moment’ and there ‘wasn’t a lot of planning involved’, but district judge Susan Holdham rejected this claim.

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.

Addressing the defendant, who wore a light grey tracksuit, the judge said: ‘As far as I’m aware, you have not been in any trouble since.

‘Having said that, this is the theft of £11,753 worth of goods belonging to Harrods.

‘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.’

Osman, of Grays, Thurrock, pleaded guilty to theft and was jailed for nine months.

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