Royal Mail boss stole £20,000 as revenge for losing job

[Pinky 1]

A Royal Mail manager has been jailed after he stole more than £20,000 of cash and valuables as “revenge” for being made redundant after 32 years.

Paul Surtees, 49, was given a 16 month sentence after a court heard he abused his trusted position and stole from high value parcels over a 12-month period.

Surtees was due to receive a £73,000 redundancy payout when he carried out the offences at the Leeds Mail Centre.

Jailing Surtees, Recorder Simon Batiste, said: “The Royal Mail is a cherished institution and the public have the right to expect that parcels and letters, especially those by special delivery, will get to their destination unhindered.”

Kenton Sergeant, prosecuting, told Leeds Crown Court Surtees had responsibility for the transfer of special delivery items.

The Royal Mail began a surveillance operation in July last year over concerns that items were not reaching onward destinations.

The prosecutor said the operation then became more focussed on Surtees and he was seen dealing “inappropriately” with packages.

Stolen items were later found in his bag and after searches of his car and home. Among the items stolen were more than £4,000 of gift cards and vouchers. He also stole a £4,500 package of cash which was destined for Post Offices.

Another stolen package contained £1,500 of fire-damaged notes which was supposed to go to the Bank of England.

Surtees, of Dunlop Avenue, Leeds, pleaded guilty to seven offences of theft.

During interview about the offences Surtees said he was part of his motivation for the thefts was revenge at being made redundant.

Narinder Rathour, mitigating, said: “He was certainly bitter about how he was treated.”

Mr Rathour said Surtees had worked for the company since he was 16 and been a hard working and loyal member of staff for many years.

The lawyer most of the stolen items had been recovered apart from £2,800 of cash. He added that his client was embarrassed and full of remorse for what he had done.

Surtees now faces an investigation under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Recorder Batiste said the offences were so serious that only an immediate prison sentence could be imposed.

He added: “Part of the motivation was based on anger and revenge towards the Post Office as your job was under threat. That is an aggravating feature.”

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[Sidley]

Don't drop the soap asshole.

[DirtyHarry]

So he was going to get £73K anyway but stole £20K in 'revenge'? Sums the IQ of the average RM 'manager'.

Proof, if it were ever needed.
There is no bigger Knobhead, than a Royal Mail Manager.

[UnhappyGremlin]

A Royal Mail manager has been jailed after he stole more than £20,000 of cash and valuables as “revenge” for being made redundant after 32 years.

During interview about the offences Surtees said he was part of his motivation for the thefts was revenge at being made redundant.

Narinder Rathour, mitigating, said: “He was certainly bitter about how he was treated.”

Mr Rathour said Surtees had worked for the company since he was 16 and been a hard working and loyal member of staff for many years.

A warning to all managers I think, that are currently spouting the RM company lines at the moment about privatisation and the pay deal.
You will be thrown on the scrap heap without a thought for your loyalties and service. Or your 'work' in revisions.
Think they all should be wondering about job security after privatisation, should it happen. At the end of the day, if there are less posties, then they require less managers. Simple logic. Or would that be asking too much of a manager?

Can't see him getting too much sympathy on here either.

[k979aaa]

Let's just give a thought to all the people in the unit he (worked in) bet they fell under the suspicion first and how many got sacked before he did.

[edwardo]

So he was going to get £73K anyway but stole £20K in 'revenge'? Sums the IQ of the average RM 'manager'.

Proof, if it were ever needed.
There is no bigger Knobhead, than a Royal Mail Manager.

spot on

[Captain Scarlet]

Let's just give a thought to all the people in the unit he (worked in) bet they fell under the suspicion first and how many got sacked before he did.

Same happened in our office many years ago when we had 4 PHG's....bugger stole thousands and all where under the screw, thing is he was getting away with it until....he admitted it

[daveyeff]

i got told today a subpostmaster thats got 40yrs service in, has had to sell his house because his son who worked at his post office stole £179.000. i was told by the owner of a nearby post office. its in the tyneside area, but i havent seen anything in the papers yet. wonder if teebs has heard owt on the wires.

[daveyeff]

found it.,,,, its in last weeks evening chronicle, the son had stole over £176,000 to cover gambling debts. started off at around £4000 but spiralled out of control. he,s been sentenced to 16 months in jail but will only serve half as his grandfather has had to sell his house to repay the debt. his father who had more than 40yrs service in has ended up losing his job through his son. it is a catastrophic blow to him and his family who are devasted by the whole ordeal. the grandfather has ended up moving in with his son since he sold the house. the sons greed has destroyed his fathers life.

[Darren Bent]

why do he need to worry about revenge when he got 73 grand. It can pay everything off, buy new car and have about 40-50 grand to do anything. and why the taxpayers are paying that much for a manager to leave.

[Shambles]

why do he need to worry about revenge when he got 73 grand. It can pay everything off, buy new car and have about 40-50 grand to do anything. and why the taxpayers are paying that much for a manager to leave.

Agreed......

But Darren think about this....

How much does it cost the tax-payer to keep a prisoner locked up per week?

So over a period of 16 Months......

What they should have done is given him one of those outfits with arrows all over and made him lick the shop floor for 16 months, on a zero hours contract, especially as Romec have virtually gone, we need our floors cleaned!

[daveyeff]

whats happened to romec

[Shambles]

whats happened to romec

forgot to add 'virtually'

[TrueBlueTerrier]

whats happened to romec

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