Man spared jail after £46,000 phone thefts

He told devices from his employer and sold them online

A man who stole £46,461 worth of mobile phones and accessories from his employer has been spared jail. 

Sean Lowther, 36,of Douglas was sentenced by Deemster Graeme Cook at Douglas Courthouse.

Lowther stole iPads, iPhones and a Samsung phone which he later sold online to second hand retailers and, in one instance, sold one to a local store. 

The court also heard he also gave some of the stolen devices to his ex-wife. 

Lowther had been employed by Manx Telecom and worked as a mobile product manager responsible for testing the company's retail portfolio. 

Suspicions arose of him internally due to the large number of devices he was requesting. 

The company subsequently contacted the Police and Lowther was arrested in November 2024 and his home was searched and several devices were recovered. 

Lowther was later charged in March 2026 and pleaded guilty to theft committed between 2021 and 2024 at his first appearance. 

Sentencing Lowther, Deemster Cook noted he had been placed in a position of trust which he had breached, but noted a reference supplied by a former colleague in support of him and his character. 

Addressing the length of the thefts, Deemster Cook said it 'seems amazing that such a big organisation would not have checks in place'.

He also criticised the length of the investigation undertaken by the Police, saying it was 'not acceptable' and 'unconscionable' that it took 15 months from Lowther's first arrest. 

Recognising Lowther had gained fresh employment and had admitted guilt at the first opportunity, Deemster Cook sentenced him to 20 months prison, suspended for two years.