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A THIEF jailed for snatching parcels from a Royal Mail delivery van might have deprived a child of a birthday present or a sick person of medical supplies, a judge said.
Thomas Ward, who has 100 offences on his criminal record, grabbed seven packages from the rear of the vehicle parked in Westgate in central Bradford.
Ward, 25, and his accomplices used a getaway car to flee the scene at 11.10pm on January 16 this year.
Ward, of no fixed address, was recalled to prison after serving a sentence for burglary.
He had racked up 42 convictions for 100 offences, including 52 for theft and similar dishonesty matters.
He pleaded guilty to theft from the van and stealing two crates of Jack Daniel’s whisky worth £500 from the Asda store in Cemetery Road, Lidget Green, Bradford, on December 18.
Prosecutor Martin Robertshaw told Bradford Crown Court that Ward used the same modus operandi for both offences.
He and his accomplice made a dash for the supermarket fire exit with a crate of whisky each and were driven off at speed in a waiting vehicle.
Ward was caught on CCTV footage from the Rose & Crown on Westgate but neither his accomplice nor the getaway car was traced.
The court heard the vehicle was seen accelerating off with the boot wide open and full of parcels.
Mr Robertshaw said the theft could be damaging to the Royal Mail.
“It could show potentially a loss of confidence in its services when parcels are not taken to their destination,” he said.
Ward’s barrister, Emma Downing, said he was realistic and knew, that as a persistent offender, he was going to prison.
He was released from his previous sentence on December 2 and stayed clear of cannabis and alcohol.
But problems in being paid his state benefits left him desperately short of money.
His application for an emergency loan was turned down and he was left with no money.
Ward was ashamed and remorseful and determined to make a fresh start, Miss Downing said.
Judge Jonathan Rose jailed him for a total of ten months.
“The Mail is and should be sacrosanct,” he said.
The missing parcels could have contained a present for a child, money, gift vouchers or medical supplies, the court heard.
“People may have paid for what was in a parcel.
“They might be in dire financial circumstances and bought a child a birthday present ,” he said.
