Postman is jailed for theft (From Barry And District News)

Postman is jailed for theft

A POSTMAN was jailed for stealing five parcels on his round - one of which was a test set by suspicious Royal Mail investigators.

Harry Klaus Weinert, from Murch Road, Dinas Powys, was charged with taking five parcels while in the employ of the Royal Mail.

The 43-year-old removed three DVDs from Brittania packages. He also took a necklace, jewellery box, a measuring device and material from a QVC package.

A test package which contained a ring and ring case was used by Royal Mail investigators. Weinert took the parcel on his Penarth round and removed the contents.

Police were called in to search the father-of-three's car and his house, where the items were found.

Defending, Chris Lacey said: "At the time of the offence, Mr Weinert had found out his son had leukemia and he was having problems with his partner, whom he is no longer with.

"He wanted to give the jewellery to his partner and the DVDs to his son.

"This is the first offence Mr Weinert has committed in his 43 years. This is clearly out of character.

"All of the items were recovered and the total value was not a high value. His life was falling apart at the time.

"He was going to Surrey to visit his son and this was putting him in financial difficulties. His debts were increasing.

"He is not a likely repeat offender."

Weinert pleaded guilty to the charges and was given three-month sentences for each offence, to run concurrently.

He will serve six weeks of the sentence and will then be put on licence for the remainder.

Sentencing Weinert, magistrate Byron Williams said: "You breached a position of trust in a public organisation.