Postman pinched parcels and cash

Thief rumbled after three months on the job

A Paisley postie who stole parcels, letters and money from gift cards, has narrowly avoided a jail sentence.

John Ross, 23, pilfered the post while employed at the Royal Mail sorting office in Johnstone because he was skint.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard Ross had been employed as a postman for around three months before his offences came to light.

Bosses at the sorting office in Walkinshaw Street, hauled him in after suspicions about missing items were raised, and he confessed to his employers he had been stealing items from the mail.

Procurator fiscal depute Raeesa Ahmed told the court : “At the interview, the accused made admissions to his employer.

“There had been a report in relation to missing mail and a witness, Mr Douglas Neil, a senior colleague of the accused, made inquiries.

“After inquiries, it was established the accused was involved in the matter and he was called in for interview, where he made the admissions.”

Yesterday, Ross of Shortroods, Paisley, appeared in the dock before Sheriff Colin Pettigrew where he pleaded guilty to charges of stealing a quantity of letters, parcels and money between June 1, 2019 and August 31, 2019.

Defence agent Michael Stewart told how his client was “deeply ashamed and completely embarrassed at himself” for what he did.

He said: “He was going through a significant period of financial and emotional hardship.

“He was also dealing with the pregnancy of his partner, coupled with a large amount of debt.

“He is deeply ashamed and completely embarrassed at himself.

“He advises me he really regrets his actions, but owned up to the matter when it was raised by his employer.

“He also pleaded guilty to the offence at an early opportunity.”

Mr Stewart added his client was fired from his job after the thefts came to light.

Sheriff Pettigrew told firstoffender Ross he would normally be sent to prison for “such a serious offence” as stealing postal items while employed by the Royal Mail.

He said: “This is a very serious breach of trust.

“You have already suffered because of this with the loss of your job - and you should have.

“We simply cannot have a situation where Royal Mail employees are simply helping themselves.

“You accepted responsibilty at an early stage and pleaded guilty when the matter first came to court.

“That enables me to just consider a non-custodial disposal because it is that serious.”

He handed him a Community Payback Order lasting 12 months where he will be under mandatory supervision of the local authority.

He was also ordered to perform 180 hours of unpaid work within 12 months.

The order was handed him as a direct alternative to custody and he was told if he breaches it, he will likely be sent to jail.

We simply cannot have a situation where Royal Mail employees are simply helping themselves