Wallasey postman narrowly avoids jail after admitting theft

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Wallasey postman narrowly avoids jail after admitting greetings cards theft

http://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/10533 ... ft/?ref=nt" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A Wirral postman who admitted stealing at least 1,000 greeting cards looking for cash narrowly avoided going to jail today.

A judge told 62-year-old Lawrence Hegarty that "with hesitation" he had decided to impose a 36-week jail sentence but to suspend it for two years.

Liverpool Crown Court heard Hegarty had been employed by the Royal Mail for 12 years and worked at the Wallasey sorting office.

Following many complaints about missing mail containing cash, an investigation was launched and suspicion fell on all staff until it was shown that Hegarty was the culprit.

Sentencing him, Judge Alan Conrad, QC, said, "This was a most serious breach of trust and persistent over a period of time.

"It is serious because the public are entitled to put their trust and confidence in the integrity of the postal system and knowing that mail will be properly delivered to those to whom it was intended.

"That confidence and trust is very much undermined by cases like this."

The judge said that he accepted he had not committed the thefts out of greed but because of financial pressure.

He ordered Hegarty to carry out 200 hours' unpaid work, imposed a two month curfew between 10pm and 6am with an electronic tag and placed him under supervision for 12 months.

The court heard the cost of the Royal Mail investigation had amounted to £9,000 and Judge Conrad ordered him to pay £2,000 of that plus £900 prosecution costs, payable within 18 months.

Hegarty, of Liscard Grove, Wallasey, pleaded guilty to three theft offences.

Ben Jones, prosecuting, said the investigation began last year following complaints from the public about greetings cards containing cash having not been delivered.

Hegarty's roles including sorting mail and a secret camera recorded him on January 30 this year selecting items likely to be greeting cards and placing them on a tray.

Later he transferred them to his own sorting frame and put them in a particular area to take away later but was stopped and formally interviewed later the same day.

A total of 36 cards were found where they should not have been and when his clothing was searched £70 cash, 50 Australian dollars and 200 Krona were found.

When his home was searched 15 opened cards were found in his kitchen and yard.

Mr Jones said the precise amount of cash stolen by Hegarty was unknown but it was known that £280 and 50 Australian dollars had been taken from two cards.

When interviewed Hegarty admitted stealing, initially saying he had been taking 50 to 60 cards a week for a year, taking £50 to £60 a week, but later he said he had taken a total of 1,000 cards.

Hegarty has since voluntarily handed over £1,000 to Royal Mail, he added.

Quentin Neal, defending, said Hegarty had no previous convictions and had worked heard since the age of 16.

Four years ago he intervened to prevent a robbery and put himself in physical danger.

He explained that a man of Hegarty's such good character began to steal "because he came under financial pressure over a number of years" and was left with debts of about £20,000.

"He made a grave error and tried to deal with the debt by going to a loan shark.

"He took a £1,000 loan which soon increased.

"The loan shark was aware he did not want his wife to know about his difficulties and threatened if he did not keep up with payments he would tell his wife.

"The defendant should have shared his difficulties with her but he did not," said Mr Neal.

He added that Hegarty was embarrassed and ashamed of his conduct and the affect on his family, friends, colleagues and the Royal Mail. He is now living on his £240 a month pension.

[stokes11eg]

Again and again! No sympathy.

[Lounge Lizard]

"imposed a two month curfew between 10pm and 6am with an electronic tag" - so despite his crime taking place during those hours he's not now likely to do anything wrong between 6am and 10pm.

"When interviewed Hegarty admitted stealing, initially saying he had been taking 50 to 60 cards a week for a year"
And we always get "he explained that a man of Hegarty's such good character"

[UnhappyGremlin]

Got away with it then.

[Sharkeyes]

On a serious note lads and lasses that is connected with this, there is the Rowland Hill Fund, which is there for us. Pride can sometimes get in the way, but if any of us find ourselves in the smelly stuff financially, don't go to a loan shark or Wonga etc. Use that service which is there for 'US'. Sometimes you don't even need to take the financial help, just talking to some one can be of help I know, I did that last year and thank God that it is there. Don't go down the slippery slope like this fella did. There's more to lose than you can ever gain by stealing and 'crapping' on your colleagues having the IB watching everyone.

[Lounge Lizard]

On a serious note lads and lasses that is connected with this, there is the Rowland Hill Fund, which is there for us. Pride can sometimes get in the way, but if any of us find ourselves in the smelly stuff financially, don't go to a loan shark or Wonga etc. Use that service which is there for 'US'. Sometimes you don't even need to take the financial help, just talking to some one can be of help I know, I did that last year and thank God that it is there. Don't go down the slippery slope like this fella did. There's more to lose than you can ever gain by stealing and 'crapping' on your colleagues having the IB watching everyone.

Indeed, and of course, although we wouldn't know it if did occur, there was probably never a postman in financial difficulties that solved his financial problems by stealing out of birthday cards and then went back on the straight and narrow.

[aiden01]

Agree mate but all these court cases u hear the sad story piece thieving c..ts imo

[beria]

3 years porridge !