Post Office worker sold euros to mum at a cut-price rate

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A man who worked part-time in a Co Antrim post office sold euros at a cut-price rate on Christmas Eve - to his own mother.



Student Aaron Wilson (21) of Kings Road in Whitehead, appeared at Ballymena Magistrates' Court yesterday alongside his mother, Mrs Wilson (58), from the same address.

Mrs Wilson, who previously worked in post offices for 40 years, admitted stealing euros worth £59.02 on December 24, 2016 at Whitehead Post Office.

She walked free from court with a two-month jail term, suspended for a year.

Her son admitted two counts of fraud by abuse of position by selling euros at a reduced rate - once on Christmas Eve, 2016, and on November 26 that year.

A prosecutor said Mr Wilson's case involved a "breach of trust" and told how the sub-postmaster made a statement to police relating to the theft of money during a shift on December 24.

The defendant carried out a transaction to sell his mother €900 at the "buy-back rate".

The court heard he told police he had contacted his mother during a break. Afterwards, she brought in £766 in a brown envelope for the €900, and he handed over the currency, which resulted in a loss.

The prosecutor said Mrs Wilson told police the scam happened when "her friends and family needed euros".

Mr Wilson admitted to officers he had performed similar frauds "a few times".

A defence lawyer said Mrs Wilson had described her conduct as "a moment of madness".

District Judge Peter King told Mrs Wilson that as a now-retired former post office employee she would have known the implications of what was done.

The judge added: "There are suspicions there are other matters, but I can only deal with what is before me".

He adjourned sentencing Mr Wilson until April.