Chesterfield man stole Vivienne Westwood jewellery from Flannels bosses

By Ben McVay
Published 5th Dec 2022, 12:46 BST
Updated 5th Dec 2022, 12:46 BST
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A Chesterfield man stole flashy Saint Laurent bracelets and Vivienne Westwood watches worth £1,000 while working at a Derbyshire Flannels store, a court heard.

Benjamin Hardy, 42, also snatched £50 from a co-worker - dipping into the woman’s handbag on two occasions.

Chesterfield Magistrates Court heard Hardy’s theft spree - while working at Flannels in Shirebrook - happened between July 1 and July 12 this year.

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A prosecutor speaking about his July 7 theft from his colleague, said: “It wasn’t noticed until the following day when she realised £40 was missing from her purse.

Benjamin Hardy, 42, also snatched £50 from a Flannels co-worker - dipping into the woman’s handbag on two occasionsBenjamin Hardy, 42, also snatched £50 from a Flannels co-worker - dipping into the woman’s handbag on two occasions
Benjamin Hardy, 42, also snatched £50 from a Flannels co-worker - dipping into the woman’s handbag on two occasions

“CCTV showed the defendant taking the money.”

She described how on July 12 CCTV showed Hardy dipping into the worker’s bag again - this time lifting £10.

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Hardy, who had previously been handed a conditional discharge for battery and criminal damage, admitted two counts of theft by finding and one of theft by employee.

The defendant, who had no legal representation, told magistrates: “I can’t defend what I’ve done, I regretted it straight away. I was just in a really bad place.”

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He added in his defence that he had returned all of the stolen items to Flannels.

A magistrate told him: “The law takes a dim view of this - there was clearly a breach of trust.

“However we take into account that you have no previous convictions and are a family man.”

Hardy, of Chesterfield Road, North Wingfield, was handed 26 weeks jail suspended for 24 months, 14 rehabilitation activity days and a £154 victim surcharge.

He was also ordered to pay £50 compensation.