A group of criminals who defrauded B&Q of almost a quarter of a million pounds over a five-year period have been put behind bars.
Sentencing the three men at Preston Crown Court, the judge said that in operating their long-running scam involving refunds on goods stolen from B&Q they had taken advantage of "the excellent consumer policy of a major chain of stores".

The racket, operated by Gavin Phillips, Anthony Grainger and Paul Hughes, all from Liverpool, ran from 2005 to 2010 and was carried out in B&Q stores across England, Scotland and Wales. The complex process involved stealing products from the DIY retailer's shelves and then returning later to claim refunds.

Phillips and Grainger both admitted a charge of converting criminal property, amounting to £232,800 in total.

The swindle came to light after a security guard in B&Q's Whitehills Blackpool store noted the men's suspicious behaviour. He followed them out of the shop but was left hanging onto the men's car when it was driven straight at him.

Judge Pamela Badley sentenced Phillips and Grainger to three years in prison each, and Phillips received an additional sentence of four months in prison and a two-year driving ban for dangerous driving. Hughes was given a 12-month sentence suspended for a year.

The judge told the men: "It was certainly highly planned and organised. It took place over a considerable period of time, the length and breadth of the country. It was taking advantage of the excellent consumer policy of a major chain of stores."

In a statement issued to diyweek.net B&Q said: "We have cooperated with the police throughout their investigations which are continuing and so we are unable to comment further.

"We take activity like this extremely seriously and would like to reassure our customers that we are working closely with the police."