Postman admits stealing mail

12:43pm Wednesday 16th July 2008

A postman who admitted stealing post - including a ruby solitaire ring worth almost £200 - faces jail, a court has been told.

Stuart Crayford, 38, of Winchester Way, Wantage, pleaded guilty to three counts of theft and one count of intending to delay 3,503 postal items, when he was working at Wantage Delivery Office in Church Street, between March 2007 and April.

On Tuesday, Didcot Magistrates' Court heard how the married father-of-two had been suffering from financial problems and temptation had got the better of him.

Emma Thacker, prosecuting, said he stole post and a ruby solitaire ring worth £194.

He also stole 95 postal packets which contained greeting cards.

She also said the total cost of Royal Mail's investigation into the theft was £2,206 and the cost of the prosecution totalled £352.

Magistrate Jane Moreton said: "Suspicion was cast on other postal workers and it was planned over a period of time with a degree of sophistication.

"It was also a serious breach of trust.

"Greeting cards were also targeted and it was quite unpleasant because the cards were mostly sent to children. This is so serious that custody should be considered."

Mr Crayford, who is on bail, will be sentenced next month.

A spokesman for the Royal Mail said: "Instances of this nature are extremely rare and we have a zero tolerance approach to any of our people involved in illegal activity regarding the delivery of mail.

"The actions of such individuals should not detract from the majority of our postmen and women who are honest, very hard working and committed to delivering a top quality service to our customers."

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