Post driver admits stealing mail worth £219,000 (From Warrington Guardian)
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Post driver admits stealing Warrington mail worth £219,000
8:00am Thursday 7th March 2013 in News
Paul Doughty
A POSTAL worker has pleaded guilty to stealing mail worth £219,000 he was supposed to deliver.
Paul Doughty, aged 57, worked as a HGV driver for Royal Mail in Warrington.
He was responsible for driving wagon-loads of high value mail - all sent by special delivery - to depots in the area.
Doughty stole 11 large mail bags over a year, taking the parcels and letters to his Liverpool home instead of delivering them.
The Royal Mail employee admitted five counts of theft at Warrington Crown Court on Tuesday.
Doughty, of Devon Court, Aintree, also pleaded guilty to one count of converting criminal property.
Judge David Hale warned he now faces prison.
He said: “You must be under no illusion of what is going to happen.
“Clearly it is a very serious offence.”
The thefts took place between September 2010 and September 2011.
Doughty’s deceit was uncovered in an internal investigation by Royal Mail who placed him under surveillance after suspicions were aroused.
He was arrested on September 10, 2011.
Jonathan Duffy, defending, asked for reports to be carried out before Doughty is sentenced.
He added the defendant is due to go on holiday before his next hearing.
The case was adjourned for sentence until Thursday, May 16.
Wife Pauline Doughty was also due to be prosecuted for one count of converting criminal property.
The case against her has now been dropped, following her husband’s guilty pleas.
Following the hearing Val Bodden, Royal Mail spokesman, said: “Royal Mail has a zero tolerance approach to any dishonesty and that stance is shared by the overwhelming majority of postmen and women, who are honest and hardworking and who do all they can to protect the mail and deliver it safely.
“It is a criminal offence to tamper with or delay the delivery of mail and anyone caught doing so will face serious disciplinary measures.
“Royal Mail will always seek to prosecute the tiny minority of people who abuse their position of trust.”
Comments(12)
ninearches
says...
10:57am Thu 7 Mar 13
Karlar
says...
12:09pm Thu 7 Mar 13
Casual Postman of Orford
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1:25pm Thu 7 Mar 13
widnesman
says...
1:59pm Thu 7 Mar 13
Nick Tessla
says...
2:19pm Thu 7 Mar 13
;-)
Sameoldsameold
says...
5:13pm Thu 7 Mar 13
old-codger
says...
7:32pm Thu 7 Mar 13
He added the defendant is due to go on holiday before his next hearing.
Judge David Hale warned he now faces prison.
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Its 18 months since he was arrested and just been to trial, He,s had ample time to go on holiday AND serve the miserly sentence he will receive sewing mailbags..
chumhill
says...
11:44pm Thu 7 Mar 13
sophiebo88
says...
9:43am Fri 8 Mar 13
old-codger
says...
5:14pm Fri 8 Mar 13
If I am out he will leave parcels with a neighbour and leave me a card to say where he left it, I am fortunate enough to be able to say I have never had a problem.
Touch wood..
mr walter mitty
says...
3:52pm Mon 11 Mar 13
irishwire says...
9:21am Thu 7 Mar 13