Thieving Folkestone postman Darren Tredget facing jail

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Thieving Folkestone postman Darren Tredget facing jail after stealing hundreds of pounds from birthday cards

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/folkestone/ ... man-21095/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A postman is facing prison after pleading guilty to taking hundreds of pounds from birthday cards at the Folkestone sorting office, a court was told.

Darren Tredget admitted three counts of theft and one of delaying the delivery of mail dating back to January last year.

The 32-year-old former Royal Mail worker appeared at Folkestone Magistrates' Court and will now be sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court.

He admitted stealing £650 and an unknown number of gift vouchers as well as 237 postal packets and delaying the delivery of 654 and 3,305 door-to-door items between January 2013 and February this year.

The court heard how Tredget started working for Royal Mail in May 2010, originally in Ashford but then moved to the Folkestone office.

Natalie McNamee, prosecuting, said during routine checks in January it was noticed that at Tredget's station some greetings cards had not been dealt with properly and some were opened.

She added Royal Mail then placed him under surveillance and Tredget was seen to put items into his jacket and walk to the gentlemen's toilets on several occasions.

Ms McNamee added test packets had been included and during one check only "two of four packets had been dealt with properly".

She said there were "clearly two levels of breach of trust – of the employer's and of the public's placed in the Royal Mail".

Hugh Roberts, defending, said Tredget, of Anglers Drive in Deal, was not "out to benefit himself".

He had suffered a kind of "mental breakdown" following personal troubles in his family life after splitting with the mother of his children, adding he "felt the need to put back what he took".

The case was heard at Folkestone Magistrates' Court

Tredget was committed for sentencing at crown court at a date to be fixed.

[wannabeek]

Hugh Roberts, defending, said Tredget, of Anglers Drive in Deal, was not "out to benefit himself".

Oh good grief. £650 plus extras in his pocket and that's the defence? Beggars belief how a defence lawyer can say that.

[westham000]

Always the same excuses when thieves or lazy posties who dump mail get caught. Mental,personnel problems suffering from stress or depression etc. just be honest for once in your life's hold your hand up and say fair cop and tell them the truth. I'm a lazy thieving bugger who doesn't want to put in any O/T to earn extra money and prefer to thieve money from cards and goods from members of the public! Don't these thieves think of the consequences of their actions when the thieve. Lost of job,pension, shares, reputation and more importantly giving all of us at Royal Mail a bad name. Not to mention putting the business at risk!

[ganda]

Things like this make the news, there is never any mention though of posties, up and down the land, who go the extra mile when mail is missing important information.

He sounds a bit simple really, if you are going to do this sort of thing, you wouldn't leave the evidence on the fitting

[Lounge Lizard]

Always the same excuses when thieves or lazy posties who dump mail get caught. Mental,personnel problems suffering from stress or depression etc. just be honest for once in your life's hold your hand up and say fair cop and tell them the truth. I'm a lazy thieving bugger who doesn't want to put in any O/T to earn extra money and prefer to thieve money from cards and goods from members of the public! Don't these thieves think of the consequences of their actions when the thieve. Lost of job,pension, shares, reputation and more importantly giving all of us at Royal Mail a bad name. Not to mention putting the business at risk!

Westy, I don't think anyone on here is making any excuses for what that Darren did in Folkestone, and there have been many comments on this forum criticising not only such dishonesty but also the routine "of previous good character" pleas made by the defence. Yes, indeed, it is to be hoped that, other than in exceptional circumstances, such despicable people, whether caught stealing £650 and gift vouchers from cards in Folkestone or gaining £178 by dishonesty from the good folk of London, will hold your hand up, say 'fair cop' and tell them the truth.

[wannabeek]

For those who have no idea what Lounge Lizard is referring to:

This reminds me of the time when I first started in the job. Got stuck on a crap walk was on it for nearly 7 years! Could have gone on reserve but I like to know where i'am each day. Then they had a resign and I got a far better walk. Told all my customers I got knocked off it by another postie and that I was really upset. Never thought nothing of it until the last day, too my surprise and amazement my customers had a collection for me and raised £178! Took the Mrs out for a meal and to the cinema and still had change!

That's really not the same scenario at all, in my opinion. I don't think it's good to compare his actions, where money was willing given as a thank you after many years' service, to those of a blatent thief nicking cash out of birthday cards.

In westham's situation, of course I would tell punters that I was sad to be leaving them, it would be rude to tell them that I was looking forward to not seeing their sorry mugs any more!