Croydon seafood workers avoid jail for £80,000 prawn theft

Four employees of a Croydon seafood business have avoided immediate prison sentences after admitting to stealing nearly £80,000 worth of prawns. The thefts, carried out over an 18-month period, involved loading extra stock into a delivery van which was then sold on for cash. The owner of Upstream Seafoods, Christopher Smith, told the court the dishonesty had a significant emotional and personal impact.

Details of the sentencing

William Heather, 58, a delivery driver who had worked for the company for 13 years, was identified as the ringleader. He pleaded guilty to theft by employee and was sentenced to a two-year prison term, suspended for three years. Heather must also complete 250 hours of unpaid work and pay £15,000 in compensation. Judge Alan Bates told Heather he had escaped immediate custody "by the skin of your teeth."

Goods workers Michael Jackow, 59, Marek Ledochowski, 43, and Cliff Reeve, 41, also pleaded guilty. Jackow received a six-month custodial sentence, suspended for 12 months, along with 100 hours of unpaid work and an order to pay £10,000 in compensation. The judge suggested Jackow may have been misled into the offending by others.

Ledochowski and Reeve, who were involved in the thefts during the final two weeks of the period, received community orders of 12 months. Both must complete 100 hours of unpaid work. Reeve was ordered to pay £2,639 in compensation, while Ledochowski must pay £1,889. Ledochowski has already begun repaying his share.

Discovery of the thefts

Mr Smith became suspicious of stock discrepancies at the end of September 2025, after the company accountant noted the business was struggling. A comparison of the stock list with the amount of product on Mr Heather's delivery van revealed significantly more stock than indicated on the loading sheet. The total loss to the business was calculated at £79,225, primarily in prawn products.

The court heard that Heather had a previous conviction for theft by employee in 1999 and was experiencing financial difficulties. Lawyers for Heather and Jackow stated they also faced financial hardship, which contributed to their actions. Reeve's role involved marking boxes to identify which were legitimate deliveries and which were intended for cash sale.

Mr Smith rehired Ledochowski after the offending came to light, stating he believed Ledochowski understood the seriousness of his actions and wanted to give him a chance to rebuild trust. All four defendants were also ordered to pay £150 each in prosecution costs and a statutory surcharge.

What happens next

The four employees must now complete their respective unpaid work requirements and pay the ordered compensation to Mr Smith within the specified timeframes. Failure to comply with the court orders could result in the suspended sentences being activated.