Postman stole from birthday cards to fund gambling addiction

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by Change | 27 Aug 2010

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A postman who stole cash from birthday cards to fund his gambling addiction has been jailed for two years.

A Norfolk postman has been jailed for two years after stealing money from birthday cards in order to fund his addiction to gambling.

Thetford-based Daniel Kerling admitted during a hearing at Norwich Crown Court to the thefts, which took place between July 2006 and April this year, the BBC reports.

Shortly after his arrest, the postman said the crimes "would not have happened" if he hadn't been a compulsive gambler.

He pleaded guilty to delaying over 8,600 postal items, of which he opened 207. He also said he had stolen £1,000 from the post, describing his actions "shameful".

Prosecuting, the news provider quoted Duncan O'Donnell as saying that suspicions were originally aroused when two packages the Post Office put into the postal system were later found in Mr Kerling's rucksack.

Representing the postman, Malcolm Plummer said that Mr Kerling found his crimes "easy to do" but that "he shows considerable remorse".

In May 2009, the Northampton Chronicle reported that postman John Sweeney had stolen £53,000 worth of special delivery packages in order to fund his gambling addiction.

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