Former retail manager of The Deep jailed after stealing £89k

The former retailer manager of The Deep has been jailed for 27 months after admitting stealing £89,000 from the charity.

Hull Crown Court heard Jason Metcalfe, 43, of Hamyln Avenue, Hull, stole money from two ‘penny press’ souvenir machines and put fake refunds through the tills of the gift shop to fund his gambling habit.

At a previous hearing on September 22, he admitted three counts of theft, seven counts of fraud and three counts of converting criminal property, with offences dating back to 2009.

His offences came to light after an internal investigation was launched by staff at the popular tourist attraction in March 2015, when anomalies with the penny press takings and a large number of refunds were highlighted.

Mr Welch also told the court that whilst no jobs were lost as a result of his dishonesty, changes in working practices were required that would otherwise not have been necessary and his former colleagues had said they felt betrayed by his actions.