A POSTMAN stole hundreds of cards as well as cash from people in Aldershot every day for almost a year, a court has heard.

Terry Stewart was given a six-month suspended prison sentence last Friday (July 23) after he admitted stealing post from the people he was supposed to be delivering it to between March 2009 and February this year.

Stewart told investigators that he took an average of 12 cards a day from the Aldershot sorting office, which he then opened, keeping any cash or gift vouchers he found inside, Aldershot Magistrates’ Court heard.

At that rate, he may have taken thousands of cards from people in Aldershot, many of whom would have been young children expecting birthday cards and gifts from relatives that never materialised.

Stewart, 52, of Lower Farnham Road, Aldershot, used the cash to buy items for his family after facing mounting money problems.

He has since been sacked by Royal Mail, where he had worked for 33 years, and has lost his pension entitlement.

Robin Pigott, defending, said: “He knows he has let himself down after a long career in the Royal Mail.

“He is deeply ashamed that his selfish actions have caused upset to the people receiving the cards.

"He would accept that they are often youngsters who would have been disappointed and angry.”

Sentencing him, deputy district judge Peter Davidson said Stewart could have expected to go to prison for the “very serious offence indeed”.

But his previous good character, early admission of guilt, and the fact he had shown remorse and not profited from the thefts meant the prison term would be suspended, he said.

The district judge gave Stewart a six-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and 200 hours of community service over the course of a year.

For more on this story, see the Aldershot News & Mail, out now.

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