Six months for wealthy man in bizarre shop thefts

Iswarduth Nuckcheddy had nearly £250,000 in the bank and lived in a village with the mortgage on his home paid off.

But barrister Simon Alexander told Sheffield Crown Court that the former company director was bored after being made redundant, and saw shoplifting as a challenge.

When police raided his home in Barnsley they found more than 100 leather jackets – all in his size, unworn and carefully folded. Some still had the store security tags attached.

Nuckcheddy held a senior management position in a company but was made redundant in August 2008.

“He received a large and substantial payout and has been living off the capital”, said Mr Alexander. “He doesn’t need these jackets – he never wears them.”

Nuckcheddy, 54, of Worsbrough, admitted two offences of theft and one of handling.

Fiona Swain, prosecuting, said he stole two leather jackets from Debenhams at Sheffield’s Meadowhall shopping centre in February this year, then went to Leeds and stole another two jackets two hours later.

He was given a community order by Leeds magistrates but just two days later he was back at Debenhams, stealing more jackets.

His method was to try on the jackets and then brazenly walk out of the store wearing the stolen garment in place of his own.

When eventually challenged by a member of staff he initially denied stealing but then offered to pay for the jacket.

Police were called in on February 20 and found a horde of 101 leather jackets at his home, valued at £14,000.

Nuckcheddy has a string of previous shoplifting convictions, stealing items including watches and belts in Beighton, Sheffield, Barnsley and York dating back to 2008.

Jailing him, Judge Peter Kelson said: “There is undoubtedly a strangeness about this case. You have nearly a quarter of a million pounds in bank accounts and held important senior roles in companies.”

He added: “The time has come. You have got to be punished to deter you from further offending.”

He was also ordered to pay compensation to Debenhams.