A FORMER employee of a shoe shop has been cleared of fraudulently obtaining cash by using an alleged refund scam.

Neil Humphries, of Sandy Lane, Stourport was accused of putting through refunds for goods at Barratts in Worcester’s High Street which had no original receipts.

It was alleged he stole a total of £985 by this dishonest method over a six-week period in June and July last year.

But Judge Andrew Plunkett directed the jury to find 22-year-old Mr Humphries not guilty of a single count of fraud after hearing two witness statements and one witness give live evidence.

He said there was no prosecution material to show whether other employees had put through refunds without receipts, neither was there any stock or till records to show whether Barratts had suffered any financial loss.

The defendant's refunds had been verified by staff counter-signing refund receipts.

One ex-employee told police staff were always rushed. She counter-signed refund receipts but rarely checked to see if a refund to a customer had actually taken place.

Shane Crawford, prosecuting, said a security manager found that 25 refunds made by Mr Humphries had no original receipts.

When police checked out customers’ details found on the refunds, some did not exist and others had never shopped at Barratts.

Defence counsel David Chidgey submitted that the evidence against Mr Humphries - who had no previous convictions - was of a "tenuous character".

Customers could have brought in goods without the original receipts, he added.

The jury heard that the shop, which once employed seven staff, had now gone into administration.