Crooked postie caught stealing after firm set £1,000 bait

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Crooked postie caught stealing after firm set £1,000 bait http://www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk/Crooked- ... story.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

CROOKED postman Geoffrey Cox stole £1,850 cash inside two parcels after helping himself to the money during a very serious "abuse of trust".

The first theft of £850 was a company's weekly takings but he was caught the next time after his bosses trapped him by setting up a second packet, containing £1,000, which he also stole, a court heard.

The stolen cash was later found stuffed down the front of his trousers after he was challenged.

Cox, 51, of Grimsby Road, Cleethorpes, admitted two offences of theft on October 16 and November 6.

Adam Beaumont, prosecuting for the Royal Mail, told Grimsby Crown Court that Cox was working at the town's Victoria Street post office when he stole £850 cash in weekly takings, belonging to the Stitch Express clothes alterations and repairs business, previously known as Supastitch, in Flottergate Mall, Freshney Place, Grimsby.

When the disappearance of the money was reported, Royal Mail bosses set up a specially-prepared packet containing £1,000 for the same company. It was put in a special delivery bag and was later collected by Cox.

It was discovered that the packet had been tampered with and the seal had been cut open – and that the bag containing the £1,000 cash was missing. Packaging had been thrown away in a bin and the stolen cash was later found stuffed down the front of his trousers. A craft knife had been used to cut open the package.

Laurinda Bower, mitigating, said Cox had no previous convictions, was of impeccable character and the matter was a grave source of shame to him and his wife and two sons. He felt he had let down his employer and his family.

He had worked for the Royal Mail for two-and-a-half years on two separate contracts and had been a valued employee, often doing overtime.

He was genuinely remorseful and, after leaving the Royal Mail, had found agency work at a food processing factory.

Judge Simon Jack told Cox: "People place their possessions, sometimes valuable possessions, in the post in the hope and expectation that they will reach their destination safely – and they are entitled to have those expectations met.

"It's vital postal workers can be trusted. You abused the trust placed in you by stealing, in a quite sophisticated way, packages containing significant amounts of money."

Cox was given an 18-week suspended prison sentence, 200 hours' unpaid work and was ordered to pay £750 costs.

After the hearing, Stitch Express seamstress Hayley Crone said she was pleased Cox had pleaded guilty.

"It was a terrible thing to do," she said. "We are glad he has been dealt with. It's lucky that I keep all the receipts that I get from the post office to prove that I have posted them. We always make sure we have got all the receipts when we take money to the post office."

Miss Crone added Cox's actions were despicable because they could have brought her and others under suspicion.

[knackers0191]

what a plonker, why do people do this, then think they are going to get away with it.. its only a matter of time before they get caught, these so called work mates give the rest of us a bad name.. first they start with a cd or a dvd then somit else, then it starts to get out of hand. your thinkin all the time "bloody hell its easy this" then your whole world comes crashing in around you... but then its to late, your family and friends get to know what you been up to.. DONT DO IT IN THE FIRST BLOODY PLACE.. if you got the temptation to steal seek advice before its to late

[pants123]

there are some seriously thick people who are posties,, specials are all accounted for, recorded delivery are tracked,, and if you steal stuff from cards,,,,,, your going to get caught.......... DON'T DO IT,,, BE honest just do your JOB, post eveything, you have to deliver............. and collect your PAY PACKET up at the END of the week....... it's not worth losing your integity for a few quid...... f..king idiots who steal.........

[pokos27]

what a pillock.