An IT manager at Sainsbury's HQ who awarded himself more than ã81,000 worth of Nectar points was jailed for 20 months yesterday.
James Stevenson, 45, added 17 million points to his collection of loyalty cards between 2002 and 2009.
The father-of-two, of Muswell Hill, north London, admitted using some of them to purchase ã8,120-worth of goods from the store.
Points can be redeemed at cinemas, Argos, the Eurostar, Orient Express, Amazon and resorts such as Alton Towers. Based on an average ticket cost of ã30 to enter the resort, Stevenson's points would have entitled him to 2,700 visits there. Five hundred points are worth ã2.50.
Stevenson, who was employed as a lead analyst programmer at Sainsbury's head office in Holborn, central London, pleaded guilty to charges of fraud and theft in November last year.
He was allowed to spend the Christmas and New Year period with his family on bail before sentencing and showed no emotion as he was sent to prison.
Judge Peter Thornton QC told him: 'You had access to the Nectar card system and loyalty card scheme. You abused your position over a period of years by putting points on to false cards.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...e-17m-Nectar-points-jailed.html#ixzz1B7WWC7rR
James Stevenson, 45, added 17 million points to his collection of loyalty cards between 2002 and 2009.
The father-of-two, of Muswell Hill, north London, admitted using some of them to purchase ã8,120-worth of goods from the store.
Points can be redeemed at cinemas, Argos, the Eurostar, Orient Express, Amazon and resorts such as Alton Towers. Based on an average ticket cost of ã30 to enter the resort, Stevenson's points would have entitled him to 2,700 visits there. Five hundred points are worth ã2.50.
Stevenson, who was employed as a lead analyst programmer at Sainsbury's head office in Holborn, central London, pleaded guilty to charges of fraud and theft in November last year.
He was allowed to spend the Christmas and New Year period with his family on bail before sentencing and showed no emotion as he was sent to prison.
Judge Peter Thornton QC told him: 'You had access to the Nectar card system and loyalty card scheme. You abused your position over a period of years by putting points on to false cards.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...e-17m-Nectar-points-jailed.html#ixzz1B7WWC7rR
