Stylist jailed over theft of hair irons

Published on Wednesday 20 August 2008 22:46

A HAIRDRESSER has been jailed after stealing almost 1,000 sets of hair straighteners from his up-market salon and selling them on eBay to fund a lavish lifestyle.

Mark McMorrine, 37, stole hundreds of luxury GHD straighteners over two years from two salons owned by the stylist Charlie Miller.

McMorrine used computers at the boutiques to fix deals on eBay and sent trainees to unwittingly post the hair irons, making him 63,000.

The talented colourist spent the money on cars and an extravagant wedding.

He was jailed for 18 months yesterday at Edinburgh Sheriff Court after a jury found him guilty of theft and fraud by majority verdict.

Sheriff Derrick McIntyre told him: "You were a valued and trusted employee of Charlie Miller, and you've been convicted of theft and fraud to the value of 62,000. This was a breach of trust."

Charlie Miller, the Scottish hairdresser of the year, who had hired spies to uncover the thief, claimed that a total of almost 80,000 worth of stock was taken, but prosecutors could not put an exact figure on the amount.

Last month's trial had heard that Mr Miller hired private detectives to snoop on staff after accountants found a massive black hole in stock from two salons in Edinburgh.

McMorrine, who managed the Ocean Terminal salon and worked in the South St Andrew Street branch, tried to pin the blame on other employees when he was told about the missing goods.

But in reality he was using two accounts on the internet auction site to peddle various GHD products, as well as high-end shampoos and conditioners.

Sentencing McMorrine to 18 months' jail, Mr McIntyre said he had no alternative.