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A SKELMERSDALE postman who stole thousands of pieces of mail was spared jail by telling magistrates his ruptured testicle prevented him from delivering letters.
Steven Joseph John Murphy, 24, was sentenced at Southport magistrates court yesterday after admitting a total of three charges of stealing 2,312 packets, letters and pieces of junk mail during his time as a postman.
Murphy escaped custody, but was sentenced to 150 hours of unpaid work, and given a three month curfew and made to attend a 10-day new directions course.
In addition he was told to pay a total of £511 court costs, charges and compensation.
Magistrates heard that Murphy was 15 when he suffered the injury to his groin, which he claimed made it impossible for him to complete his rounds.
Despite his pre-existing medical condition Murphy signed up to a three month contract as a postman with the Royal Mail in 2004, aged 19.
John Didsbury, prosecuting, told magistrates: “This matter came to light on September 8 last year when police officers recovered a large quantity of mail from Blythewood, Skelmersdale.
“Mr Murphy was the tenant being evicted from the property.”
Mr Didsbury added: “When he was 15 he ruptured his testicle and this caused ongoing problems for him.
“When he started with Royal Mail he had difficulty cycling and delivering the mail.”
The haul of post included 1,863 addressed letters and packets and 449 pieces of junk mail posted between November 2004 and January 2005.
Of the addressed mail 154 items had been opened and Murphy admitted in police interview that he had taken two DVDs from the mail.
Grahame Halliwell, defending, said that Murphy realised his actions had been stupid.
He said: “Matters spiralled out of control, he didn’t go one day, or the next day – he collected the mail, but didn’t deliver it.”
The solicitor added: “This has been a very, very chastening experience for him. “He clearly had no idea of the serious nature of what he had done.”
Sentencing Murphy, who is now of Hentage Way, Wigan, magistrates told him: “We do consider that the custody threshold has been passed and hope that you appreciate the gravity of what you have done and the effect to Royal Mail customers.”
He added that Murphy had avoided jail thanks to his early guilty plea and remorse.
A Royal Mail spokesman said: “Royal Mail has a zero tolerance approach to any dishonesty and that stance is shared by the overwhelming majority of postmen and women, who are honest and hardworking and who do all they can to protect the mail and deliver it safely.
“We will always seek to prosecute the tiny minority of people who abuse their position of trust.”
