A husband and wife who ran an east London butcher’s stole £230,000 by setting up their own secret till and hiding the money from the shop’s owner.
Shop manager Kevin Quirk, 54, and sales supervisor Brenda Quirk, 52, pocketed the money over a period of nine years by tallying it up through a second till at Dewhurst of Stratford.
After detectives caught him red-handed, Mr Quick claimed the second till was for “beer money” and staff bonuses.
Between June 2006 and February 2015 the married couple, from Buckhurst Hill, stole £230,000 from Roy Cook, the owner of Dewhurst in The Mall.
Mr Cook became aware a second, secret till was being used by the Quirks for all cash received between Monday and Thursday.
He employed a private detective who covertly visited the shop wearing body cameras and saw cash sales being put through the unauthorised till.
The Quirks were arrested and found guilty of theft by employee in December last year. They both denied the offence.
DC Georgina Black of the Met Police said she was pleased the couple have been brought to justice.
She said: “This crime is particularly horrible because the Quirks abused their position of trust and stole thousands of pounds for their own personal gain.
“They have shown no remorse for their crime and have failed to admit their guilt throughout.
"I’d like to thank Mr Cook for coming to us and for his assistance throughout the investigation.
"I hope this will send a clear warning to anyone else who thinks it is okay to steal from their employer."
On Friday the pair, both of Walnut Way, Buckhurst Hill, were sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court.
Mr Quirk was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, suspended for two years. He must carry out 300 hours of community service and pay a victim surcharge of £100.
Mrs Quirk was sentenced to eight months in jail, also suspended for two years. She was ordered to carry out 100 hours of community service and pay £100 to the victim.
