Postman sacked for selling stolen parcels 'on eBay'
THIEVING postman Craig Barber has been sacked after stealing parcels and selling some of them on eBay.
Royal Mail officials launched their investigation into postal items going repeatedly missing last year.
-
It led to a search of Barber's home and the discovery of a number of undelivered packets.
Among the now empty packets was a rugby World Cup calendar from New Zealand, a bottle of perfume, printer cartridges and items from the Diabetes Care Group.
Call WHITEGATES Today 01782 209935 ..Limited offer. Available only up on production of voucher. Sell your home for £399 plus vat.* #EPC is required to market your home not included in offer.
Terms: *Upfront payment, non-refundable in the event of property remaining unsold, being withdrawn from the market or being sold by another agent, yourself or by any other means.#EPC £62.50 plus vat.
Contact: 01782 209 935
Valid until: Thursday, July 04 2013
The defendant had already sold on ebay an iPod and a boxed DVD set of the TV series Birds of a Feather.
Barber was arrested following the investigation and has now pleaded guilty to six counts of theft at Stafford Crown Court.
Barber had told investigators that he had been given some of the packets in the street by people. He said he had forgotten to deliver some and feared being accused of delaying the mail.
Now Barber, aged 37, of Aegean Close, Trentham, has been ordered to do 130 hours unpaid community work, pay £200 compensation and £200 costs.
Recorder Kevin Hegarty QC told Barber: "No-one expects their friendly postman is occasionally taking the odd letter or packet and taking it home.
"In September and October last year, you regularly helped yourself to items of post."
The court heard Barber – who had no previous convictions – had worked as a postman for 12 years. He is now unemployed.
Nick Tatlow, defending, said: "Theft by postal workers has the effect of undermining public confidence and that's a fact the defendant, after 12 years working for Royal Mail, understands only too well.
"He is not addicted to gambling, drink, drugs or any other vice, he took the contents of a relatively small number of packets and all for very little. "He is genuinely and thoroughly ashamed of himself."
Royal Mail today welcomed the prosecution.
Royal Mail spokesman Val Bodden said: "Royal Mail has a zero-tolerance approach to any dishonesty and that stance is shared by the overwhelming majority of postal workers, who are honest and hardworking and who do all they can to protect the mail and deliver it safely. We always seek to prosecute the tiny minority who abuse their positions."
Comments
by stokeatheart
Sunday, December 09 2012, 11:09PM
“You people say a company like Royal Mail would not do anything like this ,royal mail stoke is full of bullying managers who can make things appear and disappear at will and if you make a complaint then they have it in for you even more they control the appeals court so you have no chance, complaints to the ceo falls on deaf ears this company is a joke and it is the managers who need investigating”
by james77
Friday, December 07 2012, 6:48PM
“Cyber Web Solutions
The only items found and taken from his house were his own belongings and he hasn't been charged for theft for a single one of these items and last I heard they have still yet to be returned, items actually found and items claimed to have been found by royal mail investigators (who are just glorified postmen) differed somewhat.
The term used should be 'a law unto themselves'.
I'm glad I got out when I did, I just pity the poor sods who still work for them.”
by Cyber Web Solutions
Friday, December 07 2012, 3:47PM
“If he has been sacked then that's his problem as I would expect the term used would be "gross misconduct" plus items found in his house???? it ain't rocket science to work out he has been keeping his eye out on things and every so often helping himself. As Bonbonforever stated a thief is a thief regardless of job or status.@Jamess77 I think you will find most people will not be pointing and laughing but shaking their head in disgust .”
by james77
Friday, December 07 2012, 12:33PM
“PaulF430, "Sacked. Good. Paid the price, I hope he struggles to find another job, let alone one as well paid as a Postman."
Please explain why you feel it is good for a person to be sacked for something he was falsely accused of? Apart from giving high horse pillocks like yourself an excuse to point and laugh at folk.”
by PaulF430
Thursday, December 06 2012, 12:08PM
“Sacked. Good. Paid the price, I hope he struggles to find another job, let alone one as well paid as a Postman.”
by james77
Wednesday, December 05 2012, 8:16PM
“Exserviceman, 'Not exactly , the police found the articles in his home , did his managers break in and put them there?'
As far as I am aware when royal mail staff are investigated it is all done internally, the police and certainly the managers are not involved, he was never arrested as stated in the report and I would imagine that the cps weren't involved either. I haven't had any dealings with the royal mail investigators whilst working there apart from a few random security checks but you ask any of the senior posties there view on them and i'll guarantee not a single one would have a good word to say about them.
I don't know the full facts to comment any further but it wouldn't suprise me if some kind of corruption hasn't taken place, they couldn't prove the original charge so my guess is royal mail didn't fancy forking out backpay (14 months was mentioned before), 'the queen versus the accused', only one winner there!!”
by anomstokie1
Wednesday, December 05 2012, 11:18AM
“I would like to comment on james77 - I am a postie myself and I did work at the same office as the accused, you are right, he did originally get accused of taking something else which was due to be sent off to be recycled, royal mail did drop these accusations as there was zero chance of getting a conviction as there was no proof and then they did fabricate other charges at a later stage, unbelieveable that such a large organisation can get away with this!!”
by Bonbonforever
Wednesday, December 05 2012, 10:06AM
“A thief is a thief, postman or not”
by Anon_mow_cop
Wednesday, December 05 2012, 8:20AM
“As a footnote to this story my sister sent her 3 year-old grandaughter a birthday card, it never arrived and was found later in a sorting office having being cut open. No doubt someone thought there maybe money in it. I am not saying all postal workers are thieves, but just be careful about putting cash in with birthday cards.”
by Bonbonforever
Wednesday, December 05 2012, 8:09AM
“James77 - Royal Mail Fabricating charges????? You mean making up charges just to destroy an individual???? No way, a model company such as Royal Mail? Yes I am being sarcastic!!!!
There have been numerous examples of such a bullying company doing this to its employees.
I also have worked for this company and have been mistreated by management to the extent of being made ill.
So, If you wish to be mistreated by a rogue management, work for Royal Mail.”