Bucknall PO thief caught... after leaving trail of money

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Bucknall Post Office thief caught... after leaving trail of money in his wake

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HOODED Levi Whalley terrified a postmistress when he walked behind her counter and stole £1,300 cash.

The 24-year-old entered Bucknall post office just before 4pm on August 21.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard postmistress Kate Brindley was moving stock from behind the counter to the customer side when Whalley walked in.

She asked if she could help him but Whalley pulled his hood over his head and went under the gap in the counter into the staff side.

Prosecutor Fiona Cortese said: “The defendant said ‘I have come for the money’ and grabbed at the till door. He took money.

“Mrs Brindley took hold of his jumper and shouted for her husband to assist. The defendant went back under the counter and left with some money.”

The court heard postmaster Christopher Brindley followed Whalley and watched him get in a taxi.

He stood in front of the taxi and the driver refused to take the defendant. But Whalley got out and ran off.

Miss Cortese said: “He ran away and was dropping money in the street.”

Mr Brindley returned to the Eaves Lane post office but customer John Smith continued to look for Whalley in Chapel Street.

The defendant was detained nearby by workmen.

He was arrested and police recovered £1,300, either on Whalley’s person or from the streets.

Mrs Brindley broke a nail in the incident and was left shaken.

Whalley told police he stole the money in a ‘moment of madness’.

He said he grabbed two handfuls of cash and ran out. He said it was done on the spur of the moment and described his actions as ‘completely stupid’.
Whalley, of Broadhurst Street, Burslem, pleaded guilty to burglary.

Peter McCartney, mitigating, said Whalley conceded it was the ‘daftest’ thing he has ever done. Judge David Fletcher said the offence involved deliberate targeting and was aggravated by Whalley’s previous convictions, including a burglary in 2010.

Jailing the defendant for 12 months, the judge said: “You made a ham-fisted attempt to get away.

“It conjures up the image of you running up the street being pursued by people with money flying everywhere.

“I do accept it seems to have been impulsive and I accept you never intended to use any violence. The problem is violence can occur in situations like this.”