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A Luton Royal Mail worker stole parcels worth nearly £5,000 after her husband left her to become a Jehovah’s Witness.
Donna Samuel, 59, selected packages from the conveyor belt at Luton sorting office, knowing they contained mobile phones or tablets.
In March 2016 an internal investigation was launched when Royal Mail was informed that parcels were going missing.
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The mother-of-four was seen throwing packages off the belt, putting them into a bag and, at lunchtime, moving them to her car.
Prosecutor Brent Martin told Luton crown court on Thursday (September 23) that the total value of the packages taken was £4,887. Items she had stolen were found in her work area, her car and at her home.
Samuels of Home Court, Home Close, Luton appeared for sentence for two charges of theft and one of failing to appear in court after she left the country for a period of time.
Defending Michael Polak said Samuels, who cried in the dock, was aged 59 and of previous good character.
He said: “She had family difficulties. In 2009 her marriage broke down when her husband left her and her four children to become a Jehovah Witness. “
A man she knew suggested stealing items from the Royal Mail conveyor belt would be a way of earning money.
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Mr Polak sent the judge character references. He went on: “She is now a housekeeper at the Luton and Dunstable hospital and has won awards. She spends extra time in the hospital in her own time.
“She made a silly decision and said: ‘I am sorry for what I have done. I know I have done wrong. I made a very bad decision.’
“She has shown clear remorse, it will not happen again and she wishes to apologise to the court.”
Recorder Bal Dhaliwal said: “You were dealing with packages for Royal Mail. Members of the public put their faith in Royal Mail to deliver them.”
She handed Samuels an eight month jail sentence suspended for 12 months with a condition that she carries out 160 hours of unpaid work.
The judge told her: “Make sure you don’t come back to these courts.”
Samuels replied: “I won’t”.
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