John Lewis Thief Slapped with Extra Jail Time and Huge Payback Order
Lai Uong, 47, from Southfields in Gravesend, has been hit with more jail time and forced to cough up tens of thousands after stealing from John Lewis.
Stockroom Worker Stole £45,598 Worth of Tech Gadgets
The former John Lewis employee was caught red-handed swiping pricey items like laptops, wearable tech, and mobile phones from the Bluewater store. Uong then sold the goods online, making a tidy profit on stolen stock.
A raid on his home uncovered the stolen haul. Police tracked down customers who had bought the pilfered gadgets, confirming the scale of the crime.
Ordered to Repay Nearly £46k or Face More Prison Time
Back in 2022, Uong was jailed for two years and eight months after admitting handling stolen goods. Now, Woolwich Crown Court has ordered him to repay a whopping £45,298.48 to John Lewis. An extra £10,416.06 will be split between agencies involved in the investigation under the Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme.
If Uong fails to pay within six months, he faces another 18 months behind bars.
Detective Inspector: ‘Crime Does Not Pay’
Detective Inspector David Godfrey said: “No one should be allowed to benefit financially from committing crime, and we have again used this legislation to ensure criminals like Uong are made to pay back money they have made through illegal activities. I am pleased that the store will receive compensation for its losses and that this case offers a stark reminder to offenders that crime does not pay.”
