Woman stole money from posted packages

Woman stole money from posted packages

22 February 2012

A FORMER Post Office employee has received a suspended prison sentence for stealing money from Special Delivery packages at the Downpatrick Post Office sorting depot.

Twenty eight year-old Pamela McKibben admitted five counts of stealing

cash, four counts of intentionally opening post and one of falsifying accounts between January 31 and May 13 last year.

Downpatrick District Court heard the matter came to the attention of the Post Office after several people reported not receiving money that had been posted to them using the Special Delivery envelopes. All the packages had been gone through the Downpatrick sorting office.

A test Special Delivery package was then sent through the Downpatrick office containing £1,000. The package arrived at its destination, but did not contain any money.

McKibben was arrested and during interview pulled the £1,000 out of her handbag and gave it to police. She also admitted opening other packages and parcels.

Her solicitor said that this was “a breach of trust”. She no longer works for the Post Office, where she had been employed since she was 16.

“She has made it difficult to obtain good employment in the future,” he said.

McKibben, of Abbot Link, Newtownards, stole the money because she was under a lot of stress as a single parent caring for a young child, he added. She recently sold her car to get funds to pay the restitution.

District Judge Mr. Greg McCourt imposed a six month suspended sentence and ordered her to pay £2,300 restitution.

Mr. McCourt said people must be able to have “total confidence” in the Post Office and the packages that they post with them. “You destroyed that confidence by doing this,” he said.