A TRUSTED senior member of staff at a Hampshire supermarket has been jailed after stealing £4,300 worth of televisions and washing machines.

John Millmore used his position as a section leader at Asda in Chandler’s Ford to gain access to expensive items.

He would then walk out of the store’s front entrance with them before handing them over to unidentified accomplices, who would drive off with them.

The 37-year-old dad of four was jailed for ten months at Southampton Crown Court after a jury found him guilty of seven charges of theft earlier in the year.

The court heard how Millmore, of Honeysuckle Road, Swaythling, had been employed at the Chandler’s Ford store for three years.

During that time he had won a promotion to become section leader in the home and leisure section.

Between August and October 2012, he took nine televisions and one washing machine, with a combined value of £4,305, while other managers were busy looking at the day’s takings.

Police have so far been unable to identify any of his accomplices, or track down the stolen goods.

The thefts were discovered after a fellow member of staff became suspicious when he walked out with a TV, and store bosses checked the supermarket’s CCTV footage.

He was immediately suspended by the store, and subsequently resigned.

During his trial in January he claimed that on each occasion he had been approached by a customer who had come in with a receipt for the item, saying they had bought it earlier in the day but been unable to transport it.

But that is against Asda’s store policy, and the jury rejected his claims, convicting him on seven charges of theft.

As well as being jailed, Millmore was also ordered to pay a £100 victim surcharge.