A WAREHOUSE manager left a Bournemouth fashion store “struggling to survive” after stealing around £88,000 worth of designer clothes and jewellery.

Father of one Mark Douglas Williams, 43, covered his tracks by altering computer records to steal the items, many of which he would sell on, during a four-year period.

He was jailed for two-and-half years at Bournemouth Crown Court.

In February last year alone Williams took £10,000 worth of stock. His actions had such a severe impact on the Bournemouth company that they feared they would go under, said prosecutor Simon Jones.

Williams, a trusted employee for 13 years, was responsible for transferring stock from the warehouse to its stores in Bournemouth and Salisbury and responsible for updating the computer system.

At the start of last year company bosses became suspicious and started investigating. Williams was arrested in April.

Police searched the family home in Wycliffe Road, Bournemouth and discovered a large number of trainers and a bag of clothes in a Richmond Classics carrier bag stuffed behind the wardrobe. Police also seized £3,600 in cash.

Williams admitted the offences during police questioning. He pleaded guilty to theft.

His actions left the company “seriously struggling to survive” at the time, the court heard.

Defending, Robert Griffiths said that the offences were “out of character” for Williams.

He had originally begun by “manipulating stock levels” on the computer to qualify for a bonus but then “fell prey to temptation”.

Williams’ wife had run up £20,000 of debt on his credit cards and he has since become bankrupt, added Mr Griffiths.

Judge Christopher Harvey-Clark described the thefts as “clever but devious”.

“Your activities had a severe impact on the financial position of the business,” he said.

“It was motivated by greed and a desire to maintain the somewhat lavish lifestyle that you and your wife were enjoying.”