The manager of a shoe store who stole thousands of pounds from a Skechers store on Oxford Street has been banned from the casino after squandering the money on betting. Nicky May narrowly avoided a prison sentence at Southwark Crown Court on Tuesday, August 13, after processing over 100 false refunds between June and October 2023 while working as assistant manager at the central London sneaker store.
The 34-year-old, of Risley Avenue in Tottenham, north London, admitted theft by an employee at Westminster Magistrates Court in July this year. The losses came to light when Alice Haines, a loss prevention officer working for Skechers USA, noticed an unusually high loss for a store that keeps most of its goods off the shelves, away from shoplifters.
Ms Haines discovered three card refunds linked to two debit cards that May had used to buy sneakers with his 50 percent employee discount. After trawling through the CCTV, she discovered footage of May processing refunds, keeping tills closed and taking cash from tills only to fold it up and put it in his pocket. There was also footage of May forging customer signatures on store receipts that was found during the investigation.
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May resigned from his post on October 30, 2023, but was later arrested and questioned by police. On Tuesday, prosecutor Jack Furness revealed that May had committed an almost identical theft in 2018 while working at JD Sports. On that occasion, he was convicted of making false statements for personal gain after processing 23 fake refunds valued at £2,230.
Mr Furness said the Skechers theft required significant planning due to the complex process for obtaining refunds and because it lasted over four months. Counsel also argued that it was a breach of trust due to his role as assistant manager. In total, May processed 96 cash refunds and 63 credit card refunds valued at £15,183.20, none of which were ever repaid.
Defence lawyer James Higbee blamed his client’s gambling addiction for the brazen theft and urged the judge to impose a community sentence rather than a suspended sentence. “He recognises he has a problem that has been brewing for many years,” Mr Higbee said, adding: “This is not a life of crime. He has worked all his life and will continue to work after this.”
“Don’t be tempted to risk your freedom”
May stood with his hands behind his back, wearing jeans, a black T-shirt and white Nike trainers, as Judge Adam Hiddleston spared him immediate custody. The judge concluded that sending him straight to prison would not benefit May or society as a whole, given the progress he had already made with GamCare, a support service for those affected by gambling, since his arrest.
The sentence of ten months’ probation was accompanied by an expulsion order that prohibited May from entering casinos and betting shops and from using gambling websites.
May must also complete 150 hours of unpaid work as punishment, but has not had to pay compensation due to his dire financial situation. The court heard he has been living in his car for the past four months and covering his costs with some benefits.
“Today you have been given a chance,” Judge Hiddleston boomed, warning: “Do not be tempted to risk your freedom. If you do not stay out of trouble or do what I have told you, you will end up behind bars, you can be sure of that.”
For more information about GamCare support, click here.
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