Four men to stand trial over theft of £1.5m in shoes

Four men are to stand trial charged with the alleged theft of £1.5m of shoes.

John Bull, 39, Thomas Law, 31, Grant Bower, 32, and Luke Boocock, 24, all denied being involved during a hearing at the High Court in Glasgow on Tuesday.

Prosecutors claim a break-in occurred at Office Holdings in Moorfield Industrial Estate in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire on July 30 and 31, 2022.

The four men, along with unknown others, are said to have stolen £1,265,397 of shoes from there.

It is alleged they were involved in serious organised crime by taking part in the alleged theft.

The indictment claims “reconnaissance” was carried out at Office Holdings with the group having travelled from England.

It is further claimed that cars and HGVs with false or cloned number plates and that security at the site was overcome.

Boocock faces another charge that he forced open a vehicle at Abington motorway services in Biggar, Lanarkshire, and got away with £133,662 of trainers.

This allegedly took place on February 23 or 24 in 2022.

Boocock is said to have carried out a similar theft at the Cairn Lodge services in Douglas, Lanarkshire, stealing a haul of trainers valued at £49,700.

It is claimed this happened on March 10 or 11 in 2022.

Bull’s advocate Lorenzo Alonzi told the hearing that he has lodged a special defence of alibi in connection with the charges he faces.

The other defence lawyers, along with prosecutor Michelle Brannagan, agreed a trial could be set.

Lord Scott said: “I will fix a trial of eight days duration for December 2025.”

The four, all from different addresses in West Yorkshire, remain on bail.