Post Office worker stole cash and cards

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/story-1 ... story.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A woman who caused suspicion to be cast on colleagues after denying to her boss she was stealing was caught red-handed when he installed CCTV.

On the first day a security camera was installed by the till at Chard Post Office it showed Stacey Jane Bailey helping herself to cash and playing National Lottery scratch cards. When confronted she confessed to a £700 theft spree that had lasted for around two months, South Somerset Magistrates were told.

Bailey, aged 20, of Chard, pleaded guilty to stealing National Lottery scratch cards, money and confectionery belonging to Chard Post Office between June 1 and August 8 when she appeared in court on Monday. (September 19).

She also admitted stealing scratch cards and cigarettes on August 9.

Prosecutor Sarah Rhodes said that Bailey had worked for Les Gilbert for five years at the post office and stores in Fore Street, when he began to notice discrepancies with the National Lottery scratch cards every time she worked.

She continued: “Bailey was confronted about this by her boss in June and other members of staff were also questioned but everyone denied being involved.

“He then got a covert camera installed near the till on August 9 and when he viewed it that same day it showed Bailey taking money from the till and putting it down the front of her trousers.

“She was also seen to scratch off several cards that she had not paid for and was also seen serving customers and putting the sum through the till but keeping the money.”

Bailey was arrested and made a statement to the police admitting she had taken £80 from the till and accepted she had done it on a number of other occasions with the proceeds of theft totalling around £500.

She also admitted helping herself to the scratch cards saying she took only a maximum of £5 worth at a time. The total amount was estimated to be in the region of £200 worth.

Michaela Rose, defending, said that her client was of previous good character and could not explain why she had committed the offences.

She said: “It started off with a few scratch cards and just escalated from there.

“She also accepts taking money from the till on a number of occasions.

“The offences were quite unsophisticated and she has had to attend disciplinary meetings.

“She has also lost her job and good character as a result and her partner and family are completely disgusted with her.

“She has apologised to her boss for what she has done but cannot really offer any explanation and really does not know what she was thinking at the time.”

The magistrates sentenced Bailey to a was given a community order for 12 months and fined £785.