Royal Mail bosses set trap for dishonest postman 10/10/12
Royal Mail bosses set a trap and caught a postman suspected of stealing mail in the Western Isles, Stornoway Sheriff Court was told today.
Ian O' Donnell of 10 Parkend, Sandwick, Lewis, was caught out when planted packages containing £5 notes went missing from the Stornoway sorting office on 9th March and on 3 May.
The 46-
Sheriff Colin Scott Mackenzie also ordered him to undertaken 200 hours of unpaid community service work.
Solicitor Kevin Macpherson said it was "beyond belief" why someone of his age without past convictions would act "so recklessly."
He said he “put in jeopardy his livelihood, liberty and his reputation."
O' Donnell quit his postman's job when confronted by bosses.
His lawyer said the theft, and a long past incident when he came in contact with the authorities, coincided with two significant bereavements within his family.
Sheriff Colin Scott Mackenzie criticised O'Donnell for staining the postal service's "well deserved reputation for probity and honesty."