Exeter postman stole more than 1,000 gift and greetings cards to pay off gambling debt

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A postman narrowly escaped jail after stealing more than 1,000 gift and greetings cards to pay off gambling debts, a court heard.

Sean Tootell, of Matford Home Farm in Exeter, admitted systematically raiding mail items containing vouchers and cash, including through the busy Christmas period.

Tootell, 33, pocketed more than £1,000 over eight months while living in Cranbrook and working in ta Royal Mail sorting office, magistrates were told.

The father-of-two turned to theft after running up £10,000 debts gambling online following a break-up with his partner.

He pleaded not guilty to three offences including stealing a book token, an Amazon voucher, £35 cash and 1,037 postal packets of unknown value.

The thefts came to light when losses were reported in a particular area in the mail room, casting suspicion on a team of 15 sorters.

Targeted operations then began to identify the guilty person, narrowing the search down to four then eventually leading investigators to Tootel.

A colleague reported seeing him putting a "high proportion of greeting cards into his own section to sort them"

Felicity Payne, prosecuting, said "test runs" were set up in June 30 and July 7 last year.

"He was removing cash and gift vouchers in greeting cards to be delivered in the post," she added.

"The Royal Mail then did searches of the property and that's when they identified various items in his property related to missing items.

"In the sorting depot he was moving items into his area, particularly cards.

"The losses were difficult for the Royal Mail to quantify unless someone says 'there was cash in that card'."

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Tootel resorted to stealing after falling into £20,000 debt while gambling online after his relationship of ten years broke down, the hearing heard.

Unable to cope with not seeing his children, he was "drinking to excess" and when debts built up he used credit cards to try and dig himself out of a "hole".

He "buried his head in the sand", afraid of jeopardising his relationship with his 10-year-old son and daughter, aged two, Exeter Magistrates' Court Heard.

Katrina Byrne, defending, admitted the thefts had been a "breach of trust" and said Tootel deeply regretted putting colleagues in the firing line.

He had wanted to keep debts away from his partner but "took the wrong course and stole from his employer".

Following the discovery of his crimes friends and colleagues "disowned" him.

He is now living with his parents and working as a door-to-door canvasser though he still sees his children every day.

Debts of £10,000 are now on hold after he received debt advice and consolidation.

"He knows full well just how serious this is – his remorse and regret is genuine and significant," Ms Byrne added.

"Since these offences came to light he has done everything he should have done before when instead he buried his head in the sand.

"His biggest regret is that his colleagues were brought under suspicion. This is a man who values friendship and he lost a significant number of friends

"He has now dealt with his anxiety, his drinking and depression."

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Royal Mail estimated its investigation had cost £6,175 though only£92 was paid out in compensation to the public.

Magistrates handed Tootle a 12-month jail sentence suspended for two years and ordered him to do 280 hours of unpaid work.

He was told to pay pay £120 costs and £92 compensation.

Chairman Hillary Drew said: "Lots of people have been affected, the public has lost a lot of money and colleagues have been put under scrutiny because of these actions.

"It was a serious breach of trust and there was a level of planning and sophistication over an extended period.

"You have an unblemished record and we give you credit for your plea of not guilty at the earliest possible time.

"You have co-operated and shown remorse – this has been hanging over your head for some time.

"What we are pleased about is that you have addressed your problems. The way things were going you could have been living in a prison van.

"If you commit another offence in the next two years you will be brought back and you know what will happen."