POST WORKER STOLE £1,200

[TrueBlueTerrier]

The Moral of the story is DON'T DO IT YOU WILL BE CAUGHT

A Postal worker pocketed a package containing more than £1,200 in foreign currency, a court heard yesterday.

Richard Lunn, prosecuting for Royal Mail at North Lincolnshire Magistrates' Court, said: "Paul Kirkby was employed by the Royal Mail for some seven years at the Barton-Upon-Humber mail centre."

On October 18, a department investigator sent four packages to the Barton depot.

But, he explained: "When they arrived at Barton, one of the items was removed and an erroneous package form was sent by Kirkby saying the item had not been delivered."

The package contained 3,000 Turkish lira. Mr Lunn said this was worth about £1,214 in sterling.

When interviewed by Royal Mail officials, Kirkby admitted the theft.

"He said he assumed the package contained foreign currency and he stole the package because he was in financial difficulties," said Mr Lunn.

Defending solicitor Andrew Pascoe said Kirkby had been on a club committee and, in that role, had organised a trip to Ireland.

He had, however, got his sums wrong and the money collected from members did not cover the full cost.

Kirkby did not want to go back to members and ask for more cash and he paid the deficit personally, leaving him in financial difficulties.

Mr Pascoe said Kirkby, who formerly had a chip shop in the town, had resigned from the Royal Mail immediately.

And he now earned a small amount of cash by providing catering in a Barton pub.

He pointed out Kirkby only had one previous conviction, which was for an excess alcohol offence.

Kirkby (40), of High Street, Barton, admitted an offence of theft of mail.

He was given a four month jail sentence, suspended for 12 months.

He was also ordered to receive 12 months community supervision and to carry out 240 hours unpaid work.

He was told to pay the £300 costs at the rate of £5 per week.