Part-time postie driven to steal cash from mail
An Aberfeldy postman began stealing money from the mail to supplement his part-time income, Perth Sheriff Court heard yesterday.
- By Mark Mackay
- Published in the Courier : 15.04.10
- Published online : 15.04.10 @ 06.07pm
William Harvey (47) had worked for the Royal Mail for 13 years but put that employment in jeopardy when he started to search letters and packages for cash when finances became tight.
In his job at the Aberfeldy postal depot, he opened mail sent by residents of the local community, before re-sealing them with glue.
Harvey stole only a part of the money he found in each mail packet opened, explaining "his conscience" would not allow him to take it all. Nor had he ever taken anything from an item "addressed to Master or a young kid."
The scheme had been running for just six weeks before reports began to come in to the Royal Mail, alleging that cards and packets were being stolen from the area in which Harvey worked.
Harvey was soon at the centre of the investigation — although he was as yet unaware-and became the subject of intensive surveillance, with a number of test packages deposited at postboxes on his route in a bid to catch him.
The surveillance had a successful outcome on July 8 when Harvey was seen to take a number of items of mail, including the test packages, into a separate area at the depot, staying there for more than an hour.
Soon after, he left the premises and, after making one delivery, was seen to go into a pub.
A quick check of the mail revealed one of the test items had been "mistreated" and money was missing.
The police went to the pub and made themselves known to Harvey, who admitted almost immediately that he had opened some of the packages.
Although he initially said he had not realised what he was doing, Harvey later admitted that he was taking anything of monetary value.
He told the officers that he was looking for money as he only worked part-time.
Harvey of Appin Place, Aberfeldy, admitted that on July 8, at a postal office in Dunkeld Street, Aberfeldy, he delayed or opened nine postal packets. He also admitted that between June 1 and June 8, at the same place, he stole money.
Regret
Solicitor Mark Alder said his client had been open with the police and thoroughly regretted his actions.
He added that Harvey was under no illusions that his conduct would greatly affect his standing in the Aberfeldy community.
"Given that he works in a small rural post office, it would have been fairly easy to see that someone was tampering with the mail," Mr Alder said.
"He lives in the same community in which this offence was committed and he realises what this will do to his standing within that community."
Mr Alder said that, due to his domestic circumstances at the time, Harvey "found himself under financial strain."
He continued, "It was for this reason that he started taking the money, but he says he took no more than £100 in total."
Harvey lost his job.
Sentencing Harvey, Sheriff William Gilchrist told him that he had been in very grave danger of losing his liberty.
"This was clearly a gross breach of trust and one that would normally attract a prison sentence," he said. "It is with some hesitation that I consider an alternative."
He ordered Harvey to carry out the maximum 240 hours of community service.
