Royal Mail worker escapes jail after stealing post

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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A POSTAL worker who stole thousands of pounds worth of packages to fund a lavish shopping spree has been spared jail.

Long-serving Royal Mail employee Jane Davies, who embarked on a four-month crime spree at Gatwick Mail Centre, has been sentenced at Crawley Magistrates' Court.

The 55-year-old, of Falcon Close, Langley Green, stole store vouchers, gift cards and cash between February 1 and May 24 this year.

At a court hearing last Tuesday, October 15, Davies was given a 12-week prison sentence suspended for a year.

She has also been ordered to pay back £3,193 in compensation.

Davies, employed with the company since January 2000, had pleaded guilty to six counts of theft at an earlier hearing.

In mitigation Geoff White, defending, had previously said the defendant had suffered from significant mental health issues.

He told the court: "This is a lady of good character who, over a short period of time, has gone wildly off the rails.

"She has had some significant mental health issues and she took a route which was inappropriate and unlawful."

Davies admitted opening mail in search of money and took vouchers to the value of £1,600 belonging to Royal Mail itself and about £600 in cash.

She also stole a further £75 in cash, six tickets to an event at Hickstead Showground, three National Book tokens, four Toys R Us gift cards and other gift cards for Squires, Next, One4all and Fatface.

On or around May 9 Davies also stole a number of high street vouchers and gift cards for Sainsbury's, Asda, Marks & Spencer and Argos.

Her actions after this date sparked a police investigation after she was identified on CCTV using vouchers to buy a new Samsung mobile phone from Argos.

The most significant haul occurred between May 20 and May 24, when she took three bundles of mail containing 111 separate packages.

Of these, 104 were addressed to the Australian Lottery and contained hundreds of pounds in cash and credit card details, which she used to buy even more personal items.

A Royal Mail spokeswoman said: "Royal Mail has a zero tolerance approach to any dishonesty and that stance is shared by the overwhelming majority of postmen and women, who are honest and hardworking and who do all they can to protect the mail and deliver it safely.

"It is a criminal offence to tamper with or delay the delivery of mail and anyone caught doing so will face serious disciplinary measures and Royal Mail will always seek to prosecute the tiny minority of people who abuse their position of trust."

As part of her sentence Davies must also complete 250 hours of unpaid work, pay £85 costs and an £80 victim surcharge.

[RedSquirrel]

Ah, I mis-interpreted the title, obviously. Thought they escaped from jail itself!