Sisters jailed for Gatwick shop thefts hit with £220,000 confiscation order

Two sisters from West Sussex who stole thousands of pounds’ worth of goods from duty free shops at Gatwick Airport have been ordered to repay almost £220,000 under proceeds of crime laws. Laura Epitropou and Georgina Epitropou, both of Crawley, were each jailed for two-and-a-half years after admitting conspiracy to steal following a sentencing hearing […]

Two sisters from West Sussex who stole thousands of pounds’ worth of goods from duty free shops at Gatwick Airport have been ordered to repay almost £220,000 under proceeds of crime laws.

Laura Epitropou and Georgina Epitropou, both of Crawley, were each jailed for two-and-a-half years after admitting conspiracy to steal following a sentencing hearing in September 2024. Laura Epitropou also pleaded guilty to acquiring criminal property.

At a confiscation hearing held at Lewes Crown Court on Monday, the sisters were told to repay the profits of their offending. Laura Epitropou was ordered to pay £182,090.99 within one month, while Georgina Epitropou must repay £37,487.85 within three months.

The court heard the pair stole perfumes and cosmetics from duty free outlets at Gatwick Airport, with items worth around £80,000 later sold online and to private buyers.

They were arrested after being stopped while boarding a flight from Belfast to Gatwick carrying £2,000 worth of stolen goods in a suitcase.

According to the Crown Prosecution Service, bank records showed the sisters had generated around £40,000 over a 10-month period from their criminal activity.

The confiscation orders were made under the Proceeds of Crime Act, meaning the sisters must repay the sums or face further time in prison if they fail to do so.