Postman stole letters and gifts he was supposed to deliver

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Royal Mail postman stole letters and gifts he was supposed to deliver in Bideford

http://www.northdevonjournal.co.uk/Roya ... story.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A RESPECTED postman of 12 years' experience has admitted stealing mail containing cash and gifts on his delivery rounds.

Geoffrey Lacey, of Lime Grove, Bideford, would separate packages he was sorting in his trolley at Bideford's Royal Mail Delivery Office and take for himself those he thought contained cash.

He was caught in a sting by his employers, who became suspicious as complaints of undelivered packages increased.

They planted fake items containing gifts or cash in mail he was to sort, having narrowed down their group of suspects by looking at shift patterns, in an investigation that began in September 2014.

Lacey admitted three charges of theft when he appeared at North Devon Magistrates' Court on Friday.

Felicity Payne prosecuted the case on behalf of Royal Mail, and said a search of Lacey's home found various items that should have been delivered, mainly small cash amounts and small cash gifts.

Laceys's charges include stealing an unknown quantity of mail containing £155 cash and two video games, between February 1 and March 4, 2015, and stealing 16 postal packets of an unknown value on March 3 and one on February 11.

Rod Ball, for the defence, said colleagues of 54-year-old Lacey referred to "what a great postman he has been".

"He is a man of absolute good character", he added.

Mr Ball said there was some suggestion Lacey had suffered a breakdown and a stoke, which could ultimately turn out to offer some explanation for his offending. He also hinted there may be difficult family circumstances that contributed.

Magistrates adjourned sentencing to allow reports to be written up by the probation service, a Bideford psychiatrist and a GP, about Lacey's home life and his mental and physical health. These will be presented when he next appears at court on June 19.

Presiding magistrate Ian Kingsley said: "This was highly serious as it involved the integrity of the Royal Mail.

"Items were expected to be received, possibly by children and this was a theft of high seriousness for those concerned."

Lacey was granted unconditional bail.

[DB1100]

Very hard to say how a stroke can affect people,no doubt the baying mob will be on here soon wanting him hung or shot.

[westham000]

Millions of people have strokes and have family problems, they don't necessary become thieves and start stealing. I work O/T to get extra cash,even if it means going to another office. and if their was no docket I'll get a 2nd job. Stealing from the public not only undermines all our jobs ,, it also losses respect that Royal Mail has a business has built up over the years!

[DB1100]

Millions of people have strokes and have family problems, they don't necessary become thieves and start stealing. I work O/T to get extra cash,even if it means going to another office. and if their was no docket I'll get a 2nd job. Stealing from the public not only undermines all our jobs ,, it also losses respect that Royal Mail has a business has built up over the years!

I see you know nothing about the effects of a stroke,one of the side effects is a personality change,this could quite easy explain his change.

[aiden01]

Millions of people have strokes and have family problems, they don't necessary become thieves and start stealing. I work O/T to get extra cash,even if it means going to another office. and if their was no docket I'll get a 2nd job. Stealing from the public not only undermines all our jobs ,, it also losses respect that Royal Mail has a business has built up over the years!

I see you know nothing about the effects of a stroke,one of the side effects is a personality change,this could quite easy explain his change.

are you a doctor too many thieves in royal mail and their solicitors make all sorts of excuses for them once a thief always a thief just my opinon.

[DB1100]

Millions of people have strokes and have family problems, they don't necessary become thieves and start stealing. I work O/T to get extra cash,even if it means going to another office. and if their was no docket I'll get a 2nd job. Stealing from the public not only undermines all our jobs ,, it also losses respect that Royal Mail has a business has built up over the years!

I see you know nothing about the effects of a stroke,one of the side effects is a personality change,this could quite easy explain his change.

are you a doctor too many thieves in royal mail and their solicitors make all sorts of excuses for them once a thief always a thief just my opinon.

Do some reading up on the effects of strokes before engaging your brain cell,possibly the most ridiculous statement you have ever made.A stroke effects many area's of the brain and can radically alter a persons personality,a timid person can become aggressive,an extrovert can become introverted and a person who wouldn't normally do certain things can after suffering a stroke,let's hope none of your family or friends suffer's one

[wannabeek]

I can't make any comment about this dude but I know from personal experience that when a close family member experienced a stroke then they became exceedingly dishonest to all of us for no apparent reason afterwards. The dishonesty only surfaced after the person died and left a lot of complications for us to deal with. The brain is a funny old thing, and when it gets broke then it doesn't often seem to follow logic.

[dvbuk55]

I had a stroke 13 years ago and I haven't started stealing yet, maybe there's something wrong with me.

[DB1100]

I had a stroke 13 years ago and I haven't started stealing yet, maybe there's something wrong with me.

Just because you haven't been affected in that way doesn't mean other people won't be.I'm glad you came out of it ok.