Thieving postman avoids prison

A THIEVING postman from Failsworth who ripped open letters and parcels to steal cash has walked free from court with a suspended jail sentence.

Father-of-two Andrew Burke (46) had an unblemished, 26-year career with the Royal Mail.

But a court heard that he resigned in disgrace last July when his thieving emerged following a covert sting investigation involving dummy letters posted by delivery depot bosses.

Burke, of Main Street, was found to have swiped hundreds of pounds in cash, gift cards and vouchers over a six-month period.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of theft and two counts of attempted theft and was jailed for 12 months, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to carry out 200 hours of community service.

Burke worked as a postman at the Royal Mail’s depot in Blackley.

Nigel Booth, prosecuting at Manchester Crown Court, said bosses were alerted after letters and parcels were found torn open at the corners on arrival at the depot ahead of delivery to addresses between January and May last year.

The collection routes involved narrowed the investigation down to two possible postmen.

Four dummy parcels containing cash were put into a post box outside the Post Office on Victoria Avenue in Blackley, where Burke, who has no previous convictions, was based.

A further seven specially-prepared letters containing greetings cards and cash were also introduced into his mail collection round.

The mail Burke dealt with was then isolated at the depot on Factory Lane. Three of the seven letters were missing and 19 others were ripped, the court heard.

Mr Booth said the operation was repeated before Burke’s van was searched. A total of 17 open greetings cards were found.

Burke and his home and car were searched. Mr Booth said £105 cash was found in his pockets and more than 40 letters discovered in total. A total of 15 gift card vouchers and a further cash sum of £140 were then found.

Mr Booth said: “He said he had begun to steal about Christmas, 2010 and that he had not disposed of any of the packets.

“The reason for stealing was because, he told investigators, he needed food.

David Temkin, defending, said an accident at work was the catalyst for Burke falling into debt. He said: “His remorse is ongoing and genuine.”

Judge Martin Rudland told him: “You worked honestly for the Post Office until your life took a rapid downward turn. You breached the trust that you had kept for more than 25 years.”