Postie opened mail and used pre-paid replies to enter compet

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CROOKED postman Shaun Dixon opened mail packets and used pre-paid envelopes to enter a competition for his son, a court heard.

Dixon, 43, of Clovelly Court, Scunthorpe, admitted stealing five postal packets between March 9, 2009 and October 20 last year and fraudulently obtaining services by handling 20 pre-paid postal packets on September 28 last year.

Steven Baggott, prosecuting for the Royal Mail at North Lincolnshire Magistrates' Court, said Dixon had been a postman for more than 27 years.

Twenty first-class pre-paid envelopes were found in the postal system, addressed to Lego in Market Harborough.

Inside each envelope was a hand-written competition entry in the name of a 10-year-old boy who lived at Dixon's home. The pre-paid cost payable was £8.20.

Inquiries revealed that Dixon worked night shifts at Scunthorpe delivery office. He later admitted taking the envelopes from an office about six weeks earlier. He admitted he "wanted to make his son happy" by entering a competition.

Dixon's home and locker were searched and six postal packets were found in his locker. Five had been opened and their contents removed.

A total of 25 pre-paid envelopes were found at his home. He admitted he had ripped up and disposed of the contents of the packets at home. He admitted opening other items out of "curiosity" but said he sealed them back up and claimed he opened "a dozen at most".

Simon Davies, mitigating, said Dixon used the pre-paid envelopes to enter competitions for his son without paying for postage. The opening of postal packets was an "abuse of trust" but Dixon made full admissions.

Only five empty opened packets were found and another was still sealed. Two of the items seemed to be junk mail for someone who had died and most of the others contained junk mail or, in two cases, Nuts magazines.

"There was nothing, thankfully, important and there wasn't any substantial amount of money or any important communication such as a bill or anything that could have caused the intended recipient any problem," said Mr Davies.

Dixon had been "stupid and foolhardy" and, after being suspended, had been asked to resign. His pension had been frozen. He had found other agency employment and was a hard-working family man.

"He has already lost a lot as a result of his indiscretion," said Mr Davies.

Dixon was given a 42-day suspended prison sentence, 120 hours' unpaid work and was ordered to pay £500 costs.