Posties stole unsent DVDs

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.u.tv/News/Posties-stole-unse ... 5a0362bb64" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Two Royal Mail workers who stole undelivered DVDs received six months suspended sentences on Wednesday, for what a judge described as a serious breach of trust.

Stephen Hastings, 43, and Sean Mateer, 50, have also been sacked from their sorting office jobs after CCTV cameras caught them rummaging through undeliverable or damaged parcels in July 2007.

Hastings, of Glennor Crescent West, Carryduff, was convicted of three counts of theft.

Mateer, from Cluain Mor Gardens, Belfast, was found guilty of a single charge following a contest at the city's Magistrates Court.

His barrister, Sean O'Hare, had argued that he was only borrowing DVDs to watch before they were destroyed.

Mr O'Hare claimed this was part of a culture among staff dealing with undeliverable items.

He said that management at the depot in Tomb Street, Belfast either didn't know about it or else "turned a Nelsonian blind eye" to the practice.

Mateer and Hastings had worked for Royal Mail for 15 and 19 years respectively, but have since been dismissed.

Passing sentence, Deputy District Judge Joe Rice told them: "These offences constitute a serious breach of trust, therefore you must take the consequences of your actions."

However, Mr Rice also acknowledged both defendants have lost their jobs.

As well as suspending the prison terms for two years, the judge fined Hastings a total of £900 and Mateer £500.

[Lounge Lizard]

His barrister, Sean O'Hare, had argued that he was only borrowing DVDs to watch before they were destroyed. as if anyone's going to be daft enough to believe that.

[Throgg]

Good journalism. If they were unsent how could they be stolen?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Good journalism. If they were unsent how could they be stolen?

By taking them out of the door of the Office. Though I see what you mean - bad use of English

[DGP1]

Good journalism. If they were unsent how could they be stolen?

UTV is our ITV channel (and the only one in the UK who won't allow ITV HD) so you shouldn't really expect too much from them, at least it wasn't Julian Simons writing it

[not me]

lost your job and get a criminal record for a few pissy DVD's
well done idiots

[Pat Ostman]

lost your job and get a criminal record for a few pissy DVD's
well done idiots

I'll never understand theft in Royal Mail either mate.

They WILL be caught.

[Thunderthighs]

Nelsonian Blind Eye????

What were the DVD's...

Eye-Spy, The Cyclops, For your Eye only...???