Postman stole dozens of meerkat toys

[POSTMAN]

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A simples scam! Postman stole dozens of meerkat toys so he could sell them to collectors on eBay
Postman took toys intended for insurance customers from the mail
He stole dozens of meerkat toys from Comparethemarket.com promotion
The 61-year-old then sold the collectors items on eBay and made £1,500
He admits theft in court this week and walks free on suspended sentence

A postman stole dozens of meerkat toys destined for Comparethemarket.com customers and made hundreds of pounds selling them to collectors on eBay.

David Livesey, 61, made almost £1,500 in the scam, which at first appeared 'simples', the catchphrase of Aleksandr the Meerkat in the now-famous British TV adverts.

He helped himself to parcels which he recognised contained the collectors toys, which are handed out to customers of the insurance website.

But Livesey's cash-making scheme was brought to an end after Royal Mail investigators discovered that 78 of the highly-prized toys had gone missing.

They put an electronic tracking device in one of the meerkat parcels, which was later recovered after Livesey failed to deliver it.

Inquiries revealed he had sold the toys for between £5 and £43 a time - and he mailed them out to his eBay buyers with used postage stamps.

The 61-year-old, from Barnoldswick, Lancashire, also took several DVDs dispatched by Amazon during his two-year stealing spree.

Livesey, now jobless and living on benefits, admitted he was a thief when challenged by his bosses.

He admitted three counts of theft, which involved stealing a quantity of postal packets containing meerkats, stealing other postal packets between 2011 and 2014, and stealing the final packet on February 6 this year.

Appearing at Burnley Crown Court, he also pleaded guilty to having in his possession used postage stamps for use in connection with fraud.

He received six months in prison, suspended for a year, with a three month night-time curfew. He was also ordered to pay a £80 victim surcharge.

Gerard Doran, prosecuting for the Royal Mail, told the hearing Livesey had been employed by the Royal Mail for nearly 13 years, having started in 2001.

Mr Doran said investigators conducted surveillance and two meerkat toys were introduced into the mail due to be sorted by Livesey.

Electronic tracking devices were placed in the packages and Livesey was watched while carrying out his round.

When challenged, he agreed to be searched and the tagged package was later found in his van.

When his home was searched, 31 used stamps and some DVDs were found. Eight boxes of meerkat postal packages with the address labels torn off were also discovered.


Mr Doran said Livesey denied he had stolen all the recovered items from the post. He said he intended to give the meerkat in the test package to his grandchild.

He admitted he had been stealing meerkat toys and selling them over the internet for over two years. He said he had the used stamps to dispatch goods sold on eBay.

Kristian Cavanagh, defending, said: 'He is ashamed to find himself before the court for the offences and has demonstrated remorse.

'He recently had a significant operation for liver cancer, his wound had become infected and he had been readmitted to hospital on Saturday.

'His financial circumstances are quite bleak. He has remained out of work since these offences.'
Sentencing, the judge Mr Recorder Anthony McLoughlin told Livesey he had been an experienced postal worker and had committed a breach of trust.

He said meerkat toys had some 'cult interest' to people seeking to acquire them and added: 'You had some financial difficulties. That only explains it. It doesn't excuse what you were about. It went on for over two years.'

He added: 'You have actually ruined the last 45 years of your working life by being found out for these offences.

'You have demonstrated genuine remorse rather than self pity for the circumstances you find yourself in.'

[Lounge Lizard]

"He said meerkat toys had some 'cult interest' to people seeking to acquire them" What has twenty-first century Britain come to ?

[Gus McCrae]

Yes, they're absolute crap. I received one when I changed my house policy via comparethemarket.com. Can't imagine why anyone would want to collect them.

[baldrick]

Can't imagine why anyone would want to collect them.

The power of Coronation Street?

[k979aaa]

Well looks like he got stuffed then and not the toys.

[Spedley]

3 month night time curfew - thank goodness a stuffed toy thief is off the streets at night

[blackadder]

not sure what having liver cancer would cause him to nick stuffed toys.

[Ryan5ear]

not sure what having liver cancer would cause him to nick stuffed toys.

Breaking Bad 2.0



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