Former Bideford postman jailed for stealing letters

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Former Bideford postman jailed for stealing letters and gifts

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

A FORMER postman who admitted stealing mail containing cash and gifts in the months following the death of a close relative has been jailed.

Geoffrey Lacey, of Lime Grove, Bideford, was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison during a hearing at North Devon Magistrates' Court on Friday.

The court heard how the 54-year-old would carry out the thefts while at Bideford's Royal Mail Delivery Office.

Felicity Payne, for the prosecution, said Lacey's actions were discovered following a sting operation by the Royal Mail.

"That delivery office had the highest number of lost items of mail," she said. "That resulted in them making enquiries which allowed then to narrow it down to the mail sorting area of the office."

After the company planted a series of fake items in the delivery system, Miss Payne said investigators discovered that while sorting Lacey would identify packages which he believed contained money or high value items and put them into a separate bag. This would not be delivered.

During a search of Lacey's house investigators discovered two carrier bags containing ripped up mail, including greetings cards. A number of films and 11 video games, all in their cellophane wrappings, were also found.

According to Miss Payne, in police interviews Lacey told officers that on the first occasion he had taken an item "by accident", but "over time that had escalated to the point where he was selecting items of mail and was keeping those for his own use".

Lacey was charged with 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. He pleaded guilty to all charges.

Rod Ball, for the defence, told the court that he believed it was "harder to think of a sadder case".

Reading from a series of testimonies from work colleagues, Mr Ball said Lacey had been an "exemplary postman" for 12 years.

However, he said following the death of a close relative "colleagues did notice a change in him".

"It hit him hard," he said. "And he started to experience worse and worse headaches. It was something that he didn't seek help for.

"What he ended up doing was he started taking Codeine. It got to the stage where he wasn't thinking straight and got to the stage of hypomania.

"You think you are right whatever you do and you become increasingly reckless."

Mr Ball concluded by saying: "He really asks for the court's mercy."

However, despite the plea Lacey was told that the breach of trust to customers "warranted" an immediate custodial sentence, and was sent to prison for 12 weeks. He was also ordered to pay compensation of £236.84 and costs of £500.

[aiden01]

WHY is it that all thiefs seem to plead some kind of conscience that they clearly haven't got. they only seem to have one when they are finally caught.

[datasaint]

What these cretins don't understand is its not the material consequence of their stealing that matters, it's the damage it does to the reputation of the company, which then effects us all.

[westham000]

Couldn't have said it better Norm!

[NWpostie]

You lose a lot more, you lose your pension, your house as any financial loss has to be paid back, you lose everything and would be back to square one.