Ex-Royal Mail worker stole post

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://newarkadvertiser.co.uk/articles/ ... stole-post" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A former Royal Mail worker was sentenced to 20 weeks in prison after pleading guilty to five charges involving the theft of post, some of which he sold on eBay.

Andrew Lamb, 26, of Chestnut Grove, Farndon, admitted stealing postal packets that contained items including an iPhone, eight DVDs, make-up, a book, an iPad cover, gift vouchers, children’s pyjamas and a National Lottery ticket, worth a total of £352.

He also pleaded guilty to stealing packets containing greeting cards and contents including gift vouchers and cash, concealing criminal property in relation to the proceeds of sale of the items he had stolen worth £1,443, delaying the delivery of 234 packets and stealing a further two packets.

He was jailed for 20 weeks for each of five charges, to run concurrently.

Lamb was sentenced at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court.

District Judge Morris Cooper said he had no choice but to impose a custodial sentence.

The judge said Lamb was a young man with no previous convictions and was of previous good character.

“Regretfully there is no realistic alternative to an immediate custodial sentence in this case,” he said.

“Stealing postal packets undermines the trust of the public in the Royal Mail system.

“It also reflects adversely on Royal Mail itself, on the employees of Royal Mail, the hard-working, honest employees, not to leave out the affect on the individual victims of your offending.”

The judge said if Lamb had not admitted his crimes straight away his sentence would have been considerably longer.

The court heard Lamb, who moved to the UK from Australia seven years ago, had worked for the Royal Mail for almost three years. He had been committing the crimes for around a year.

Prosecutor Mr Mark Salt said the crimes came to light earlier this year when Royal Mail noticed packages had been tampered with and a high number of parcels and greetings cards were going missing from the Newark sorting office.

Mr Salt said the investigation led to Lamb, a collections officer, who, when questioned, admitted the offences.

He said a search of Lamb’s home revealed 142 unopened packages hidden in his room and items he had yet to sell.

Other items had been sold through an eBay account.

Mr Julian Bruce, defending, said Lamb was in a substantial amount of debt and had started his offending when his relationship with his partner broke down and he was left homeless.

He said Lamb had shown genuine remorse for his actions.

[Lounge Lizard]

"and was of previous good character"

[noggin1969]

The court heard Lamb, who moved to the UK from Australia seven years ago,

They're sending their criminals back now

[Newbie001]

Always find it amazing when you read these stories. Surely the office management has to bear some responsibility for these sort of events. You would think there would be some sort of audit trail to prevent this from going on so long.

[johnyo]

142 unopened parcels at home ! He was clearly at it every day ! why so long to capture someone so blatant & obvious ?
Oh I forgot Royal Mail management explains everything .....