Junkai Liu, 26, was caught with more than 7,400 stolen Apple gift cards with values of up to £250 each following visits to Morrisons in Dereham and Tesco in Thetford.

Norwich Crown Court heard he was part of a wider conspiracy involving the theft and tampering with huge numbers of cards that were then returned to store shelves.

The sophisticated operation saw fraudsters scratch off the silver panel to reveal the security code, and then reseal the card to look untouched.

Lui helped steal and tampering with huge numbers of Apple gift cards (Image: PA)

Once money was loaded onto the cards it was diverted into bank accounts run by Chinese organised crime gangs, leaving customers giving gifts that were effectively worthless pieces of plastic.

Liu, of Station Road in Dereham, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to........

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