A debt-ridden postman who stole bank cards from the mail was jailed for eight months.
A court heard that John Bentley, a dad-of-five, had not wanted to let his family down but has now “let them down tenfold.”
Ironically, he turned to the thefts after being the victim on an online fraud himself and then got loans to get out of his financial problems.
Jailing the 43-year-old Birkenhead grandad, judge Denis Watson, QC, told him: “You have abused your job.”
He said: “The institution of the Post Office, in one shape or another, has existed for just short of 500 years.
“It is an institution which relies on the honesty and integrity of its employees who are trusted to deliver and handle items of sensitivity and value.
“The breach of trust in stealing from the mail is one of the most serious breaches of trust that someone can commit.”
"Repeated serious thefts in breach of trust as a postman"
Judge Watson said that Bentley’s 13-year service as a postman meant he recognised envelopes containing bank cards and PIN numbers and decided to resolve his debt problem by stealing three bank cards and then watched out over the next couple of days for the corresponding pin numbers.
He then used one on six occasions to obtain £950, used another to obtain £50 and tried to use the third to get £40.
The judge said: “These repeated serious thefts in breach of trust as a postman can have only one result which is an immediate prison sentence.”
Bentley, of Quigley Street, Birkenhead, pleaded guilty to six theft offences.
Julian King, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court that Bentley was based as a postman at the New Ferry delivery office.
Two customers contacted the office about bank cards and PIN numbers not having been delivered and them being used at cash machines.
Royal Mail investigators discovered that on one occasion Bentley was seen using one of the cards to withdraw cash from an ATM while wearing his uniform before going into the nearby amusement arcade in New Brighton with his son.
When Bentley’s bag was searched they found one of the stolen cards with the PIN number written on the back. After initially lying, he admitted “targeting and stealing bank cards and PIN numbers from customers,” said Mr King.
Alahah Akhgar, defending, said that Bentley, who has no previous convictions, had been the victim of an online fraud and then took out loans running up debts totalling £14,000.
Bentley was said to be in arrears with his mortgage and debts and also had a gambling problem.
Ms Akhgar said Bentley has two young children to support and has been working on a part time basis at Argos since the offences came to light in May.
Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/