Rada-Emilian Ispas, 36, stole 87 Samsung mobiles and iPhones as well as high tech watches over the course of a year from his Amazon warehouse job, said to be worth a total of £85,000
A father made the “stupidest mistake of his life” when he left his shift at an Amazon warehouse with 18 iPhones hidden in his jacket.
Rada-Emilian Ispas, 36, was stopped when metal detectors went off and police later discovered baskets filled with dozens of electronic devices at his home taken over the course of a year and valued at nearly £85,000. The dad was said to have resorted to thieving following the passing of his baby son and mounting financial pressures when his partner fell pregnant with twins. Merseyside Police later found 87 Samsung mobiles and iPhones, as well as nine watches, 18 Apple Watches and straps and 20 Apple chargers taken from his workplace.
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Christopher Taylor, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court his crimes were discovered after he finished his shift at around 2.45am in July 2023. Liverpool Echo reported he claimed to only have his personal mobile phone on him, security guards found 18 iPhones hidden inside his jacket.
Merseyside Police later found 87 Samsung mobiles and iPhones, as well as nine watches, 18 Apple Watches and straps and 20 Apple chargers taken from his workplace.
The goods found in his house were said to have been worth a total of £77,537, with the devices found on his person at the warehouse being valued at £7,405.
Adam White, defending, told the court: “Mr Ispas is someone who is thoroughly ashamed of himself. The way that he puts it, bluntly, is that this was the stupidest mistake he has ever made in his whole life and something which he very deeply regrets.
“Your honour noted the tragic loss of their baby boy in the summer of 2022. Obviously this has had a very profound effect on him and his wife, and that continues to this day.
“They found out at the back end of the year his wife was pregnant again with twins, who have since been born. She was told she would not be eligible for full maternity pay.
“There was a great deal of stress about money and how they were going to cope. That was the sole motivation for this offending, not to enjoy a lavish lifestyle but in the hope he would be able to provide properly for his family.”
Ispas was handed a 14-month imprisonment suspended for 20 months plus 150 hours of unpaid work and a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 15 days.
Sentencing, Judge Katherine Pierpoint said: “Anybody who works at that premises has a degree of trust placed upon them by their employer. You have abused that trust.
“It is a great shame to find you before these courts, a man who clearly has a strong work ethic and is clearly a caring and supportive father who has never been in trouble with the police before. I accept you were struggling following the very sad loss of your child.
“No complaint at all could be made if you were immediately sent to custody. I am giving you a chance today. I do not want to see you back before these courts again.”