Two cruise passengers narrowly avoided jail time after a drunken theft on an MSC Cruises ship in March 2023.
Friends Gary Cooper, 30, and Benjamin Greenwood, 33, confessed to stealing £76,000 (nearly $100,000) worth of rings and necklaces from an unattended Effy Jewelry store on the MSC Virtuosa cruise ship in March 2023.
Men Get Suspended Sentences
A judge gave 15-month suspended sentences with community service orders for both who pleaded guilty earlier. Judge Rowland described the theft as “impulsive” fueled by several hours of heavy drinking. The two men, who had no prior convictions, acknowledged their actions as “stupid and foolish.”
The store was unmanned as the ship was still in port at Southampton, England. When the theft was discovered, CCTV was checked, and ship security quickly tracked down both men.
| Prosecutor Siobhan Linsley told Southampton Crown Court that both became “aggressive” and had to be restrained, but the missing jewelry was not recovered. They were taken off the ship by police just before it departed Southampton. The two men were clearly “extremely drunk.” |
Due to the imminent departure, local police could not complete a full investigation aboard the ship. They were unable to inspect all CCTV footage or interview any possible witnesses. Despite body searches, the stolen items were not found. The items were allegedly stuffed down their pants.
“There was dissatisfaction from security on the searches,” Linsley said. Around $50,000 worth of jewelry has still not been recovered. Cooper admitted to selling most items, while Greenwood handed in $18,000 worth of jewelry.
They were only on the Ship for Four Hours
The men began drinking heavily almost from the moment they boarded the ship. They only spent a total of four hours onboard. “The problem seems to be alcohol. Given the lack of previous convictions, these are not defendants who have an approach to criminality,” defense counsel Rob Harding said. “They accept they have done something very wrong and must be punished.”
The duo received a 15-month suspended sentence, probation, and 270 hours of community service.
