Postman cleared of stealing cards

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/Postman-c ... 6584182.jp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A POSTMAN has walked free from court after being cleared of stealing greeting cards – including one to a child containing a £5 gift – addressed to houses not on his round while sorting mail.

Gary Ashton, aged 56, of Smalldale Road, Frecheville, was accused of having the child's birthday card stashed under his kitchen table in a post office bag and of taking a further 12 cards while sorting mail at Sheffield South East Sorting Office.

But Judge Roger Keen QC directed a Sheffield Crown Court jury to return not guilty verdicts on two counts of theft after two prosecution witnesses gave differing accounts of the investigation.

Judge Keen said it was "perfectly clear" the prosecution had "no confidence left in their case".

Mr Ashton's delivery manager David Griffiths told the court he spotted the postman acting suspiciously and looking over his shoulder while sorting mail and saw a large number of "brightly coloured envelopes" in his sorting box.

Griffiths later admitted he may have been phoned by Royal Mail investigator Peter Humphrey, who voiced concerns about Mr Ashton.

The court also heard documents, including disciplinary records, were not disclosed to Mr Ashton's defence team.

Mr Ashton had told investigators the cards had been "mis-sorted" by mistake and he didn't intend to steal them.

Kevin Jones, prosecuting, said the child's card addressed to John Hibbard Crescent, Woodhouse, was found in Mr Ashton's house, ripped down the side with the £5 missing."

Mr Ashton covered the S13 postcode in Sheffield.

Mr Griffiths said complaints had been received about birthday cards "going astray", not being delivered on time or arriving after being opened and re-sealed.

He said he reported Mr Ashton to Royal Mail investigators and was given "five or six" test packets, which he placed into the mail at random times.

Mr Jones said: "Mr Ashton was seen to place 12 packets into an area of his sorting box where they shouldn't have been. All 12 were outside the area Mr Ashton would deliver to."

One of the cards was addressed to Deepcar, Sheffield, while another was intended for Slough, Berkshire, the court heard.

Investigators stopped Mr Ashton as he left the sorting office with the cards. He refused for his home to be searched and was arrested by police.

[stokes11eg]

Wonder if he'll have the cheek to ask for his job back?

[guvenor]

why not how much has crozier and co stole from us for years

[NWpostie]

Its looking like he did do it, but got away with it due to Royal Mail incompetence, it can work both ways unfortunately.