The manager of a West Midlands B&Q store has received a suspended prison sentence after systematically stealing goods from the outlet and then selling them on.
Stuart King, 39, committed his crime over a two-year period, taking a range of merchandise including drills, bathroom fittings and window vacuums from his store in Binley, Coventry. He concealed the goods inside something big, such as a wheelbarrow, and would pay at the checkout for the large item only.

The total value of goods stolen was in excess of £13,000. After taking the merchandise King would sell the items on the eBay auction website, making a profit of around £7,000.

King's thefts came to light after a B&Q fraud investigator who was monitoring B&Q goods being sold on eBay traced the sales back to him.

When confronted, King admitted that he had stolen the goods and pleaded guilty in court. He was sentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years, and he will also have to carry out 220 hours of unpaid work. He has also agreed to repay B&Q a certain amount each month.

He said he had committed the thefts because he had been in debt.