Postwoman stole mail to find money

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.thestar.co.uk/headlines/Post ... 5967414.jp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A SACKED postwoman must carry out 200 hours of community work after failing to deliver thousands of items of mail.
Magistrates heard Sarah Ratcliffe was caught when Royal Mail officials posted a parcel of 5,000 Peruvian bank notes.

The package went missing – and when investigators searched her home they found more than 3,000 other unopened door-to-door parcels
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which the Royal Mail has a contract to deliver.

Andrew Cash, prosecuting, told magistrates: "The public often refer to them as junk mail but what the public don't realise is the Royal Mail is paid to deliver these items, and that helps to subsidise the ordinary mail."

He said that Ratcliffe had worked for more than two years for the Royal Mail until she was suspended in August last year.

As a reserve postwoman, she took over rounds when other staff were not available.

When she went on one round for a fortnight, there were complaints from the public who were missing their mail.

And when she stood in on another round, yet more complaints were received.

Ratcliffe later admitted having financial problems and said she had been "looking for money" in the postal packets.

She only found around £60 in the envelopes, however, and admitted having watched some DVDs which should have been delivered, added Mr Cash.

Ratcliffe, aged 30, of Dykewood Drive, Wadsley, admitted theft of 279 postal packets between March and August, delaying 2,974 items of post, and trying to damage 17 items.

Her crimes were all carried out in Heanor, Derbyshire.

As well as the community work, Ratcliffe was given a 16-week prison sentence, suspended for two years.

Magistrate Celia Cox, presiding in Derby, told her: "These are very serious matters, which I am sure you appreciate now."

Sarfraz Ahmad, mitigating, said the offences took place after the breakdown of Ratcliffe's seven-year marriage.

She had no previous convictions.

"There was the threat of legal proceedings from her former partner and she turned heavily to drink and also to Class A drugs," Mr Ahmad added.

"She said her mind was all over the place.

"She was depressed and at the same time trying to hold down a full- time job."

Mr Ahmad said Ratcliffe had found the Peruvian bank notes – worth about £1,086 – and had handed them back to the Royal Mail.

[fishtank]

"Royal Mail officials posted a parcel of 5,000 Peruvian bank notes."

Peruvian? How random is that??

[Thunderthighs]

Maybe her punisment is to deliver mail, in all winds-and-weather, up and down dale, be attacked by dogs, with 50 packets, 500 addresses and D2D's.
Oh, sorry, that's MY job1

[Lounge Lizard]

"The package went missing – and when investigators searched her home they found more than 3,000 other unopened door-to-door parcels" - she must have found it too difficult having door-to-door parcels to deliver when the rest of us struggle with door-to-door leaflets.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

"The package went missing – and when investigators searched her home they found more than 3,000 other unopened door-to-door parcels" - she must have found it too difficult having door-to-door parcels to deliver when the rest of us struggle with door-to-door leaflets.

Unless it was 3,000 boxes and bundles of door to door but that would takes ages to pile up.

[axeman]

Ah so now the postmen and women subsidise royal fail (#by deliveringd2d's) enableing royal fail to deliver everyones mail at a cheaper rate ...with the d2d crap ....so the intention is not to maximize profit from these items ? who's the spokesperson once again telling royal fail porkies

as abhorent theft of postal packets is royal fail shouldn't lay it on as thick as they do after all how much mail sequested for profit as 'undeliverable'

[La Poste]

Mr Ahmad said Ratcliffe had found the Peruvian bank notes – worth about £1,086 – and had handed them back to the Royal Mail.

What the hell does that mean?

[La Poste]

As well as the community work, Ratcliffe was given a 16-week prison sentence, suspended for two years.
Magistrate Celia Cox, presiding in Derby, told her: "These are very serious matters, which I am sure you appreciate now."

Sarfraz Ahmad, mitigating, said the offences took place after the breakdown of Ratcliffe's seven-year marriage.

Lucky she had a female magistrate.