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Faisal Ali stole Special Delivery postal packages between March 5, 2019, and January 30, 2023. During that period, 62 items of mail were stolen.
Prosecutor Fiona McAddy told the court that 33-year-old Ali was an employee of the Royal Mail Group and worked out of the Maidenhead delivery office as a reserve officer between January 9, 2017 and February 1, 2023.
One of his duties was working within the Special Delivery Locker, processing Special Delivery mail and serving customers who had come to collect their packages, the court heard.
The case came to light after an increased number of compensation claims were made regarding lost Special Delivery packets – all of which contained money the prosecutor said.
READ MORE: London man who tried to defraud elderly Berkshire couple jailed
Ms McAddy said investigators analysed data which revealed an increasing pattern of losses and analysis of shift rotas was commenced. The common denominator and the majority of the lost packets were when Ali was on shift.
The prosecutor added that a decision was taken by investigators to watch what happened next. A test item was placed in a special delivery locker at the delivery office, the court heard.
The prosecutor said that at 6am on January 31 2023, investigators watched CCTV footage from inside the delivery office.
Ms McAddy told Reading Crown Court that at 09:46am, Ali was seen to remove several Special Delivery packets, including the test packet and take them to a table.
He was then seen to tear at a packet before placing torn packaging in a black rubbish bin bag and then removing the bin bag and taking it out of the delivery office, the court heard.
The test item contained 80 USD, the prosecutor said.
Ms McAddy went on: “The thefts at the Maidenhead Delivery Office stopped thereafter.”
The investigation was led by Christopher Sequiera, a security and investigation manager.
Alastair Smith, defending Ali, said: “His answer is the same answer he gave to probation, he is very sorry and it was immature.
“I think he understands the seriousness of it but I don’t think he understands what motivated him.”
The defendant was of previous good character. The court heard the loss will be reimbursed to Royal Mail by the defendant.
Ali, of Richmond Crescent, Slough, Berks., admitted two counts of theft at a plea and trial preparation hearing.
The court heard that there is a restraint order and Ali has agreed to pay Royal Mail compensation of around £63,000 – which is around the amount in his now-frozen bank account.
The total stolen was £70,060.96, the judge heard.
Judge Neil Millard told Ali said: “The common denominator to all of these thefts, the 62 items that were stolen, was you. Crucially, after your arrest, the thefts at the Maidenhead depot stopped.
“It is still unclear to me why you did it. Unlike other cases of a similar nature, there is no evidence you used the money to fund a lifestyle you couldn’t afford.
“Essentially you saved the equivalent sum you took.”
Ali was sentenced to two years imprisonment – suspended for 18 months.
He was also ordered to complete 300 hours of unpaid work.
