A “miserable” boss “desperate to leave” his job at a flip flop shop plundered £12,000 then vanished after feigning Covid.

Jonathan Kirby, 41, repeatedly targeted Havaianas at Ashford Designer Outlet for two months last year, then frittered the cash.

Kirby, who comes from the town, was solely responsible for managing staff at the retail giant's store and banking its takings.

The father-of-three was jailed at Canterbury Crown Court last month. Thursday, Sept 15

Kirby, who was jailed in 2010 for similar offences, told a judge he “self-destructed” then slid into depression before looting the safe.

The court heard Kirby began managing the store in April and in September took leave claiming he contracted coronavirus.

But he was sacked after failing to provide evidence and going awol, prompting the firm to take stock of its takings, prosecutors said.

A probe revealed £12,200 had “not been banked (or placed) in the store’s safe,” Havaianas’ accountant Tara Oldfield explained.

Charles Hannaford, prosecuting, told how during a police interview, Kirby said: “I did take the money, there’s no excuse for it, I do suffer from depression, there’s no excuse, I’ve done it before.

“I just got to a point where I thought I’ve taken it, I’m screwed, I’ll just take a bit more.”

When detectives asked what happened to the money, he replied: “It’s gone - I was spending it.”

Representing himself during the hearing after being denied legal aid, Kirby said he fell into “self-destruct” mode before committing the crime.

Visibly upset, he claimed he was seeking help with mental health issues and had not stolen from an employer for 10 years.

“There is no excuse for what I did, I did it, I’ve failed my three kids, it’s tough," he said.

“I’ve been desperately trying to get out of this industry, I hate retail, I’m miserable there.”

Handing down an 18-month sentence, Judge Catherine Brown urged Kirby to seek help for his mental health difficulties.

'You can’t just go around stealing...'

She added: “It is down to you to decide what you do with your life and your record - you can’t just go around stealing.”

The judge added she was unable to make a compensation order because Kirby, who is on Universal Credit, had no means to pay.

But the money could still be recovered under a Proceeds of Crime hearing or through the civil courts following his release.

Kirby, of Shirkoak Path in Woodchurch, pleaded guilty to one count of theft by employee between July and September at the earliest opportunity in the lower courts.