A THIEVING postie has been sacked for stealing post, cash and gifts set to be delivered to unsuspecting recipients.

Steven Bradford, of Manor Gardens, Kewstoke, appeared before magistrates at North Somerset Courthouse in St Georges last week accused of two counts of theft.

He had previously pleaded guilty to taking a �28 Marks & Spencer gift voucher on August 10 this year.

He also admitted taking two postal packets containing �30 in cash and a WH Smith gift card of an unknown value on August 16.

A Royal Mail spokesman said this week that the 44-year-old has been dismissed.

They added: “Royal Mail has a zero tolerance approach to any dishonesty and that stance is shared by the overwhelming majority of postmen and women, who are honest and hardworking and who do all they can to protect the mail and deliver it safely.

“We will always seek to prosecute the tiny minority of people who abuse their position of trust.

“Royal Mail customers should be confident in our services and systems, but where we are alerted to problems, either through our own stringent checks or from information supplied by our customers, we always take decisive action to investigate.”

Bradford was fined �73 and ordered to pay �1,200 in costs to Royal Mail, �28 compensation and a �15 victim surcharge.

The thefts took place in the North Somerset area.