Jailed postie stole cheque books to sell for £100 each

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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

A POSTMAN has been jailed after investigators foiled his bid to sell cheque books stolen from his round for £100 each.

Royal Mail investigators were alerted when two Derby residents contacted them to say cheque books had failed to arrive at their homes.

The team realised both were on the round of Ituwa Nzali, 38, of Baxter Square, Sinfin, and they put him under surveillance, Derby Crown Court heard.

On July 14 last year, they checked his round and noticed it included a package, which appeared to contain a cheque book.

This was not delivered so the investigators and police raided Nzali's home. He was found in the boiler cupboard trying to hide the item, said Martin Smith, prosecuting.

A search revealed 32 other postal packets in his home.

Officers seized a computer and also paper which showed someone had been practising signatures of people who lived on Nzali's delivery round, said Mr Smith.

"He had managed to obtain signatures from people for items they did not need to sign for," Mr Smith added.

"The search of his address showed items relating to the TSB, HSBC and Barclays."

The computer also listed some numbers taken from the back of credit cards – information needed for Paypal purchases, he said.

None of the customers lost money, the court heard.

Nzali was immediately suspended and two banks later revealed that unsuccessful attempts had been made to cash cheques.

Nzali, who had no previous convictions, was sent to prison for 18 months.

He admitted two counts of theft and two of possession of articles for use in fraud.

Judge Andrew Hamilton said: "You told the probation officer you were able to sell cheque books for £100.

"I suspect that is what you were doing and, with the signatures, people would be able to obtain money from the account. The scheme was very simple. This is a very serious breach of trust."

Nzali comes from the Congo and had an interpreter during the hearing.

Francesca Clarke, mitigating, said a probation report put him at a "low risk of re-offending and a low risk of serious harm to others".

She told the judge: "He is not a hardened criminal. As far as the effect of this, he has started to drink, that consumption of alcohol appears to be causing a little concern."

Nzali had previously lost a well-paid job and became a postman. She added: "That is no excuse to divert into criminal activity when one is short of money.

"There is a measure of immaturity and stupidity and he was anxious to make ends meet. That is why he found himself in this position.

"It was a matter of impulse thinking."

Nzali will serve half the 18 months and could then be deported, the judge said.