A 20-YEAR-OLD man stole high-end audio and lighting equipment worth more than £200,000 from his employer after deciding to go it alone.

Blackburn magistrates heard Sean David Frearson was selling items through eBay and also hiring it out – exactly the same business profile as his employers, HSL Holding Group Ltd, of Blackburn.

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Frearson, of Kingsway, in Euxton, Chorley, pleaded guilty to theft by employee. He was committed on bail to Preston Crown Court to be sentenced on December 21.

Ensor Geldard, prosecuting, said HSL provided expensive audio and lighting equipment for big gigs. Frearson was working for the company and stealing items from them, some of which were found stored in his own unit.

“He was selling items or hiring them out in a shadow business of his employers,” said Mrs Geldard. “When they scanned his works e-mail account they found accounts and invoices, and an asset list for his company, which he called White Bear Live. On the asset list was stock stolen from HSL.”

Mrs Geldard said HSL checked its stock and discovered just over £200,000 worth of equipment was missing.

“Frearson admitted what he had done,” said Mrs Geldard. “One of the items he had sold on eBay for £800 was actually valued at £11,500.

Angela Rossi, defending, said she understood £190,000 worth of stock had been returned to HSL.