Hard-up postman stole cash from cards

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/crim ... _1_4243588" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A CASH-strapped postal worker took money from birthday cards to pay his bills.

Ian Chantler, from Agincourt, Hebburn, tampered with cards he believed had money inside as he worked at the Tyneside Mail Centre in Gateshead.

Magistrates at Gateshead were told the 39-year-old, who had worked for the Royal Mail for 20 years, pocketed £380 between July and October last year.

The court heard how he used the money to buy Christmas presents and help pay off a £7,000 loan.

Dad-of-two Chantler admitted theft and attempted theft.

Paul Heron, prosecuting on behalf of the Royal Mail, said: “The defendant was employed, and has been for almost 20 years, before the matter came to light.

“Inquiries were made after mistreated greetings cards were found. Investigations were carried out and the defendant was seen to open two items and put them back.

“Before interview, he produced £180 in notes from his pocket which he had stolen that day.”

Graeme Cook, defending, said: “My client has no previous convictions, and he is genuinely remorseful. He couldn’t make ends meet and so he did this.”

Chantler will be sentenced later this month.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Sorry but I have no sympathy - he done wrong and should pay for it.

However, the debate over how is an interesting one. At the moment prison fails for 3 main reasons.

1. It is no longer a punishment.
2. There is no real effort to rehabilitate offenders.
3. Once they leave prison there seems little support for their parole staff and beyond that they seem to left to their own devices.

Sort out those 3 and although we will never see a complete abeyance of crime, even within Royal Mail, we will hopefully see a reduction in re-offending, and ideally a culture change among the offenders.

[clashcityrocker]

I think being sent to prison is a punishment.
The idea that it is all single rooms with en suite and computer games on tap seems to have gained popularity.

And even if it was, it would still drive me mental.

[fishtank]

I think being sent to prison is a punishment.

I think that would really depend on your present circumstances.
For someone with no previous criminal record,a job,a house and a family he may lose it's a frightening prospect.
For someone with none of those and experience of the big house i don't think it's much of a punishment at all.
If most of your mates are inside it's probably more like a 3 month school reunion...actually that would be torture.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

I think being sent to prison is a punishment.
The idea that it is all single rooms with en suite and computer games on tap seems to have gained popularity.

And even if it was, it would still drive me mental.

Don't join the forces then. What you describe is the ideal single accommodation for the lowest ranks. In practice its usually 4 to a room, communal ablutions and you have to provide the "computer games" and other entertainment.

Actually the first accommodation I lived in, ok it was during basic, I shared it with 55 other hairy blokes, and we were barred from leaving the base for the first 3 weeks and lights out was 9pm. Strangely I miss it.

[REDLETTER]

I think being sent to prison is a punishment.
The idea that it is all single rooms with en suite and computer games on tap seems to have gained popularity.

And even if it was, it would still drive me mental.

Don't join the forces then. What you describe is the ideal single accommodation for the lowest ranks. In practice its usually 4 to a room, communal ablutions and you have to provide the "computer games" and other entertainment.

Actually the first accommodation I lived in, ok it was during basic, I shared it with 55 other hairy blokes, and we were barred from leaving the base for the first 3 weeks and lights out was 9pm. Strangely I miss it.

There are a fair number of ex-forces residing in HM Prisions. A fact The Royal British Legion is aware of.

But do the governments address this, It is too easy for the ex-services to feel isolated from society because the structure they are use to has gone and they fall on bad times, prison sometimes has a familiar feel to it.

Anyone Remember the: Forgotten Heroes: a Panorama Special, BBC One last year.

[adrianjames]

2 GONE FROM OUR D.O.IN LAST TWO WEEKS,BOTH CAUGHT WITH FINGERS IN CASH BOX

[stokes11eg]

2 GONE FROM OUR D.O.IN LAST TWO WEEKS,BOTH CAUGHT WITH FINGERS IN CASH BOX

[stokes11eg]

The sad thing his, he has probably been stealing for a long time. So often in our office, this has been the case!

[TeeferTiger]

There was a guy sacked from an office in North Wales for having away with the surcharge money and then he was caught in a sting with a special delivery. That's bad enough, but I was only talking to him 6 months before about the PREVIOUS PHG and how they'd been sacked for theft in the same office! He was telling me all about it, we were agreeing with how stupid it was, how no one could think they'd possibly get away with it etc.

It's from the Daily Fail but I found it interesting
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... Y-DAY.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;