Post Office employee sentenced for theft of metal containers

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/n ... for_scrap/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A Post Office delivery driver sold metal containers for scrap after being trusted to take them for repair by his employers, a Court heard.

Royal Navy veteran Stuart Holmes, 57, had worked for the Bradford mail centre for 15 years when he was asked by his employers to transport a number of containers for repair in April last year, Bradford Crown Court was told yesterday.

The court was told Holmes, of Redcar Road, Greengates, Bradford, estimated he had taken 30 to 40 containers but the prosecution said he had scrapped 98 of them at a recycling centre in Planetrees Road, Bradford.

Judge Peter Benson told Holmes he had served his country with great distinction in the Royal Navy and had never before been in trouble with the courts.

He said: “You worked for the Post Office for a long many years, and you were trusted by them to preserve their property, not to get yourself involved in the theft of it.”

Sentencing him to six months in jail suspended for a year, and ordering him to complete 150 hours of unpaid work, Judge Benson said: “You got greedy for once in your life and for once in your life behaved dishonestly.”

The court heard Holmes said he had been working with two others and had received a total of £224 from the sale of the containers – his share of the profits.

Two other men have been dismissed from their employment but are not facing prosecution, the court heard.

Stephen Wood, for Holmes, said “For just over £200 he has lost his good character which he has built up over 57 years.”

Holmes had admitted charges of theft and converting criminal property at an earlier hearing.

Speaking after the hearing a Post Office spokesman said: “We would not wish to comment on any individual court case, however, Post Office Limited believes that all Post Office employees hold a unique position of trust.

“The overwhelming majority of people who work in our branch network are professional, honest and provide the highest standards of service possible and so it is always disappointing when that trust is breached.”

The court also heard there was a dispute over the valuation of the containers between the Crown Prosecution Service, which believed they were valued at £16,298, and Holmes’ defence, which put their value at £6,640.

The valuations will be discussed and determined at a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing to be held at a later date.

[DGP1]

I take it that it's not the Post Office but Royal Mail

And where they yorks of RSCs

[Lounge Lizard]

Our vans will be stolen for their scrap value next
We all know they're only worth the scrap value.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

I take it that it's not the Post Office but Royal Mail

And where they yorks of RSCs

Both I think - they all have some scrap value - the RSCs most but are difficult to move and the Yorks less but easier and more of them.

The picture with the article does not give an answer though as it has both in it:

[kawoxux]

Saw an ancient york the other day, it had a wooden base and looked totally knackered.


(interesting life, isnt it?)

[Lounge Lizard]

Saw an ancient york the other day, it had a wooden base and looked totally knackered.


(interesting life, isnt it?)

Those with the wooden base are twenty years old now.