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A thief whole stole dozens of postboxes has avoided being jailed ... because of Royal Mail delays in bringing the case against him.

Mark Crowther admitted stealing, or attempting to steal, 37 metal postboxes worth more than £11,000, and selling the ones he successfully took on eBay.

His crimes left Royal Mail with a £26,000 bill for replacements.

While his offences put him in line for a jail sentence, Mold Crown Court heard that it had taken three years to bring his case to court.

He had first been “on the radar” as a suspect back in 2014, the court heard.

But the prosecution took more than three years to bring.

Judge Niclas Parry said he accepted that no contents, no mail, had been stolen but the offences had an impact on rural communities and their way of life.

Crowther had previous convictions for 36 offences including two previous convictions for handling, and the guidelines suggested a two year sentence for one such offence, let alone 33.

But he had pleaded guilty, his last conviction was in 2014, and almost three years had passed since his offences.

During that time he had transformed his life, had a young family and was in regular, well-paid employment.

It was not his fault the case had taken so long to bring, Judge Parry said, giving him a 12-month prison sentence suspended for 16 months and ordering him to carry out the maximum 300 hours unpaid work in the community.

“In the circumstances it would be a nonsense to send you into custody bearing in mind you should have been dealt with in 2014 or 2015,” he said.

Crowther, 37, of Linden Avenue in Chirk , had been “carrying out an attack on the way of life in rural communities”, Judge Parry said, adding: “You were stealing post boxes that were located where they were because they were providing a service to rural communities.”

Prosecuting barrister Douglas Lloyd said that Crowther stole 33 boxes and attempted to steal another five across Wrexham, Flintshire and Shropshire, belonging to the Royal Mail.

The crimes happened between 2012 and 2014.

Crowther was first identified as a suspect in April 2014 when he was convicted of damaging a post box and some incriminating items were found at his home.

Tools which would have been required to carry out the thefts were found and a post box.

He gave a no comment interview on two occasions when arrested for the thefts.

But his computer and phone were seized and they showed that he had searched for post box locations and their locking mechanisms and evidence emerged that he had sold post boxes on eBay.

Unsuspecting customers believed that they were buying legitimate items as wedding day features and for ornamental purposes.

All the offences took place within a 22 mile radius of his home.

Judge Parry said that he had heard of late post but asked why it had taken so long to come to court.

Mr Lloyd said that there had been a substantial investigation into the defendant and others involving a larger area going back to 2010 but said he conceded that there had been delays in the case.

Defending barrister Brian Treadwell said that the offences dated back a long time and Crowther was first seen back in 2014.

Crowther stole post boxes from Whitehurst, Wynnstay, Knolton Bryn, Overton Station, Forest Road, Mount Pleasant, Chirk Station, Bersham, Bryn Common, Red Hall Lane, Althrey, Ninth Avenue, Cock Bank, Llangar, Bryn Villa, Bowling Bank, Holly Bush Lane, Eglwys and Wynstay Road in Wrexham..

In Shropshire, he stole post boxes from Haughton in Shrewsbury, Sodylt in Ellesmere, Chequer Box in Long Waste, Whitchurch,; and Llwyn Road, Park Hall, Bronygarth and the Old Racecourse in Oswestry.

Crowther also struck in Flintshire and stole a post box from Cadole near Mold.

The attempted thefts were at Forest Road, Croes, Wynnstay and Bryn Place - all in Wrexham.