Postman jailed for stealing from mail

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A POSTMAN has been jailed for helping himself to mail he should have been delivering in the Swansea Valley.

Simon Peter Happe, who had been employed by Royal Mail for 13 years, was found to have intentionally delayed 131 postal packets and stolen eight postal packets, of a value unknown, belonging to Royal Mail Group Limited.

The 40-year-old from Heol Tredeg, Upper Cwmtwrch, pleaded guilty to both offences at Neath Magistrates and was sentenced to three months imprisonment.

The court heard that the packages were found in Happe's wardrobe in his home and were dated from November 30 in 2007.

Jane Thomas from the Probation Service said Happe, who currently cares for his 72-year-old mother who suffers with her health, was "devastated."

She said: "It was something that had weighed on his mind. He buried his head in the sand.

"He said he has been completely foolish and stupid and has ruined his life."

Ms Thomas said Happe would normally work at Pontardawe post office but due to the Ystalyfera office being understaffed he was given an extra round.

"He was not familiar with the area. He was asked to cover it because of the shortness of staff," she said.

She said that he told her he was supposed to get three days training.

"He took this up with his union rep and his union rep took him out with his round," she said. "That visit was the sum total of his training.

"Some of the properties he was supposed to go to he had to go through back gardens and he simply would have not known.

"He tells me if he had taken back a bag full of mail back he would have been sacked."

Defending, Iwan Jeffreys said Happe had already paid out compensation from his pension.

"There is no financial loss to those people," he said. "He has lost his job, career and he is unlikely to find employment now after a conviction of theft. He is genuinely remorseful."

District Judge Vivian Manning-Davies said it was a serious offence.

"It is a breach of trust caused and these are deliberate offences," he said. "I think this is very sad case. You are 40 years old and your record is unblemished, and you pleaded guilty.

"I have read a number of references from people who all know you. They all speak glowingly of you, about how you helped your late father and how you help your mother and cousin."

But he added that only custody was to be justified. He sentenced Happe to two months imprisonment for the delaying of the 131 packages and three months for the eight thefts.

The prison terms will be run concurrently.

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Stupid and disgraceful full stop . But point I'm making is (he's lost his job ) yes but also says (he's lost his career ) !!! ???? Could someone enlighten me WHAT CAREER ! This job offers no progression these days , most of us earning less and when we ask for promotion .... ? Yes I think you get the point ! Anyway rant over - now get back to work !