Department Store Security Manager Jailed For Flogging Nicked Luxury Brands On eBay

Guilty: Clarke

A prison officer turned department store security boss received three years yesterday for selling £59,000 worth of luxury brands stolen from the retailer via his eBay account.

Daniel Clarke, 35, security manager at Kingston-upon-Thames’ Bentalls department store, sold expensive handbags, Armani jumpers, Chanel perfume, Mulberry wallets and keyrings, plus iPads.

When police raided his then home at at Alice House, Laleham Road, Staines-upon-Thames they also seized £12,000 worth of watches and three Ralph Lauren shirts.

Clarke, of Brackenbeds Close, Pelton, Chester le Street, Durham denied, but was convicted of seven counts of fraud by selling items on eBay totalling £59,104.

The married father-of-two was also found guilty of three counts of handling stolen goods and three counts of possessing criminal property.

Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court heard Clarke was employed between December, 2012 and May, 2014 and he continued selling on eBay until August, last year.

Prosecutor Miss Corinne Bramwell told the jury that two months before starting he opened an eBay account called ‘The Gingerbreadman’ later changed to ‘Part-time Trader’.

Clarke sold approximately four hundred items on eBay, mostly designer goods, handbags, clothing, perfume and Apple products.

Clarke Mugshot

In January 2015 the store identified a “substantial volume of stock missing” and identified ‘Part-time Trader’ as selling identical goods.

“The pattern and timings of loses is clearly linked to Clarke’s eBay account,” she added.

After he was convicted Clarke told the probation service he feared being an “easy target” sent into custody as an ex-prison officer.

He described the prospect of prison as “devastating financially and emotionally to my family.”

Clarke’s lawyer told the court he was “deeply embarrassed and ashamed,” particularly when revealing his conviction to his mother and siblings.

Recorder Emily Formby told the first-time offender on Wednesday: “You were privy to the security details of the store. How stock was marked, protected and accounted for.

“You used your inside information in getting around the various security systems and you knew the CCTV.

“You have told the probation service you were aware of loopholes in the system and exploited them.

“You denied the charges throughout and you blamed an immediate superior, concocting a story that you bought items from him in a pub.

“These are serious offences with a significant amount of money involved and a serious breach of trust.

“A prison sentence will have a devastating effect on your wife and children, but it is your offending behaviour that effects your family.

“You were not thinking of them or the consequences if you were caught and convicted.”

Compensation is sought under the Proceeds of Crime Act.