An Isle of Wight postman who stole over £600 from postal packets in Sandown has been handed a suspended prison sentence.

39-year-old Timothy Hayes, of Landguard Road in Shanklin and previously of Chestnut Close in Ventnor, appeared before the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court on 9th December accused of 3 counts of theft of mail bag/postal packet.

Hayes, who has since resigned from Royal Mail and has taken up the role of a supermarket delivery driver, admitted the charges against him and was subsequently sentenced at the Isle of Wight Crown Court 2 days ago.

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The thieving postie was nabbed when Royal Mail carried out a sting operation using marked notes. Hayes was caught red handed and admitted the crime, which is understood to have taken place at the sub-sorting office in Sandown.

The thefts occurred between August 2018 and October 2018 and again in November 2018. Over 200 postal packets are said to have been interfered with.