A SACKED Sainsbury’s worker used her old uniform to go on expensive shoplifting sprees at the supermarket stores.
Holly Trevillion shamelessly filled her shopping trolley with groceries from five different branches while pretending to be picking for online orders, a court heard.
The 35-year-old had originally been fired from the industry giant for shirking on too many shifts at a branch in Alder Hills, Poole, Dorset.
But, she kept the orange and maroon outfit and brazenly walked out of shops with up to £200 worth of items, without anyone batting an eyelid.
A court heard Trevillion, who had worked for Sainsbury’s for 10 years, went undetected during her scheme until one savvy employee became suspicious and exposed the scam.
The defendant confessed to cops she went for stores in which no one would recognise her and donned to uniform to disarm people.
At Poole Magistrate’s Court, prosecutor Tara Olney said CCTV caught Trevillion stealing on five separate occasions between September 18 and October 19 last year.
The exact amount is not known but on one sneaky spree, the ex-employee went home with over £200 worth of food.
Miss Olney told the court: “She was seen to leave Sainsbury’s without making any attempt to pay.
“She chose to avoid the checkouts and followed that behaviour in each incident.
“When interviewed by police she started by saying she didn’t accept it was fraud because it was her uniform and she did work at Sainsbury’s.
“She said she lost her job because she missed too many shifts. She admitted she went there intending to steal general household shopping.
“She said it would be easier if she was in uniform to steal and the limelight would not be on her.”
The court also heard how Trevillion had lost her job after going through an “emotional trauma” following a divorce.
Trevillion had been living in London with her husband of 18-years and son before relocating to Poole.
She was supposed to work 25 hours a week but was “absent for weeks at a time” after her marriage ended “not of her choosing”, argued her defence counsel.
Richard Middleton said: “She chose to move away from the family home and return back to the Bournemouth area.
“Her employers were initially supportive but their patience ran out and they dismissed her.”
Mr Middleton added that she had sparked a new relationship with a man who was not helping with her £700-a-month rent and it all became “very difficult”.
“It was his suggestion when things were getting tight that she might want to take a particular action,” continued Mr Middleton.
He added that the defendant took “full responsibility” and “gave full admissions”.
“This is out of character for this lady. She is trying to get her life back on track and is really ashamed about her actions,” the defence barrister said.
Trevillion, who was of previous good character, admitted five counts of fraud by false representation.
She was slapped with a two-year conditional discharge and ordered to pay £206.28 compensation to Sainsbury’s and £111 costs and victim surcharge.
THIS comes as hundreds have turned to pinching essentials in recent months to feed their families as the cost of living crisis continues to bite.
One store boss told trade magazine The Grocer: “With the cost of living, people are having to start making choices.”
Food poverty expert and Ulster University lecturer Dr Sinéad Furey said: “The return of ‘stealing to eat’ instead of being able to afford to eat is proof we need policy solutions so resorting to crime does not become a mainstream means of securing basic essentials.”
Meanwhile, staff at the UK Addiction Treatment Group have seen an “astronomical” rise in people seeking help with shoplifting addiction.
The rehab and recovery centre has averaged around 30 calls a week in 2023 year compared to just ten a month in 2022.
And, The British Retail Consortium said cases of shoplifting are rocketing.
There were 7.9million last year — 5million up on 2016/17.
This means the cost to retailers in the period has gone from £503million to £953million.
Many supermarket giants are now seeking further security measures.
