Postman is spared jail for dumped mail

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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A POSTMAN who claimed a mystery man paid him to steal mail from his rounds was caught after more than 2,000 letters were found dumped in a skip, a court heard

But Bruno Ribeiro escaped jail after a judge was told that, even though he stole money and vouchers from birthday card envelopes, only £100 was ever reported missing.

Ribeiro, 25, of Bayford Drive, Calcot, admitted one charge of stealing postal packets and was ordered to carry out 200 hours’ community service, pay £222 compensation to Royal Mail and £1,000 costs.

Reading Crown Court was told Ribeiro began working for Royal Mail on March 18 and 281 opened letters and 1,837 sealed items were found dumped on May 30.

They were traced to Ribeiro’s round and when police raided his home they found more opened letters, birthday cards and LoveFilm DVDs he should have delivered between May 1 and 23.

Adam Beaumont, prosecuting, said: “The defendant was interviewed on June 3. He stated in that interview that he had been depressed. He admitted he stole eight £10 vouchers to purchase a Fossil watch from House of Fraser.

“He stated in that interview that he was approached by a man who asked him to steal mail for him in return for payment. He said he went along with it and received between £700 and £1,000 from that stranger.”

Mr Beaumont said the “mystery man” would contact the postman every day and take away his mail. He would return most of it the following day and Ribeiro would sift through what was left to take money and vouchers for himself.

Passing sentence on Ribeiro, who now works in a casino, Judge Stephen John said it was “surprising” that only £100 was reported missing. He said: “That cannot conceivably reflect the true loss, otherwise there would be no point in this man paying you 10 times the amount of the reported loss.”

But, the judge said, in the absence of evidence to the contrary he “had no option” but to impose a community order rather than a prison sentence.

Judge John told him: “The vast majority of Royal Mail staff who offend in this way go into custody with immediate effect to demonstrate that theft in breach of trust is regarded as very serious by the courts, to punish the employee and act as a deterrent to others.”

[martin the green]

and now he works in a casino