UK Postman Gets Jail Sentence for Stealing Mail to Gamble

A UK postman that stole £5,000 worth of mail from his route in order to gamble online has been sentenced to eight months in jail by a judge at Bournemouth Crown Court.

Goodrum stole packages that included bank cards and gift cards totaling about £5,000 from his route. He used the stolen funds to fund his gambling addiction, where he played casino games and bet on football matches. When the Royal Mail launched an investigation into missing packages on Goodrum's route, he quickly became a prime suspect. A police search found 96 packages stashed under the defendant's barbecue grill, and he was charged with theft and fraud.

When he went in front of the court, Goodrum pleaded guilty to three counts of theft and six counts of fraud. He was handed an eight month jail sentence, and during his sentencing hearing, he said, "I know I was 100% wrong and 100% dishonest."

A spokesperson for the Royal Mail spoke about the case, sharing: "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. Royal Mail will always seek to prosecute the tiny minority of people who abuse their position of trust."