A John Lewis stockroom worker who stole laptops, phones and Apple AirPods has been ordered to pay back more than £55,000.

Lai Uong had been stealing goods from the retailer at its Bluewater branch in Greenhithe and re-selling them on an online site.

The 47-year-old, who worked for the department store for more than 17 years, was caught following an internal investigation into the continued disappearance of hi-tech stock items.

As part of the probe, a test purchase was made for some Apple AirPods which were being sold on website connected to Uong and officers carried out a search of his property and found Apple products with a retail value of £33,799.

Customers who purchased the goods requesting serial numbers for the products were also quizzed and they were all confirmed to be the department store's stock

Uong, from Southfields, Gravesend, was jailed for two years and eight months in 2022 after he admitted handling stolen goods.

Now a separate hearing at Woolwich Crown Court under the Proceeds of Crime Act has seen him ordered to pay back a total of £45,298 to John Lewis and a further £10,416 to the various agencies, including Kent Police, that investigated the crime.

Uong has six months to pay back the money or risk a further 18 months in prison.

DI David Godfrey said: “No one should be allowed to benefit financially from committing crime, and we have again used this legislation to ensure criminals like Uong are made to pay back money they have made through illegal activities.

“I am pleased that the store will receive compensation for its losses and that this case offers a stark reminder to offenders that crime does not pay.”