NR
UK NRI, postman jailed one year for stealing cheques and birthday gifts

Bolton, UK, May 20, 2007
Sudesh Sharma

NRI Dipak Patel, 33, a postman who stole cheques and birthday gifts worth thousands of pounds was sentenced to one year's imprisonment. He pleaded guilty to three charges of theft.

Patel opened envelopes containing bank cards, pin numbers and sold on for £100. It is revealed that Patel had taken at least 106 giros, worth £14,462

County Prosecutor, Michael Maher said an investigation was started when 5 giro cheques, worth £2,641, were missing after being sent through the North Bolton sorting office during October and November, 2006. All of the cheques related Patel 's delivery "walk. "

To Trap Patel:

• On January 17, Patel's bosses saw him steal four giro envelopes from a colleague's round and put them into his own bag
• On January 19, sevevteen packages designed to look like giros or birthday cards were planted at the sorting office. Police and Royal Mail investigators found all 17 parcels in his bag along with a letter containing details of a pin number; a bank card; Marks and Spencer vouchers worth £20 and £14 in cash.
• The police also found 34 opened envelopes, 14 mobile phone sim cards, five bank cards and a driving licence.

Bolton Crown Court Judge Roger Warnock said, "The public is entitled to believe they can rely on the postal service. Your thefts have left a lot of people distressed and upset and I hope you feel suitably ashamed, described his offences as "sheer lunacy."

Patel said that after his divorce he became depressed and began taking crack cocaine. He told police that to fund his drug habit a £100 a day he had been targeting packages.