Postman took thousands of packages

A 27-year-old Shropshire postman took nearly 3,000 postal packages, including cheques worth more than £100,000, and kept them in his home and cars, a court has heard.

James Fisher, 27, of Wem, began taking post just weeks after starting at the Oswestry and Wem delivery offices on September 1, 2008.

At Shrewsbury Crown Court today he admitted theft and intentionally delaying post between September 5, 2008 and April 22, 2009, a further charge of theft between September 10, 2008 and April 22, 2009, and a further charge of intentionally delaying post between March 1, 2009 and May 8, 2009.

He was sentenced to 40 weeks in prison on each charge, suspended for two years, and ordered to carry out 200 hours unpaid work in the community.

He was also ordered to pay compensation of £79.15 to the Post Office for re-delivery of the mail and £2,000 court costs.