News

Barnsley Postman Jailed

Thursday March 7 2013

A BARNSLEY postman has been jailed for a year after stealing thousands of items over a five-year period.

Martyn Platts, 50, stole DVDs, perfume, CDs and jewellery.

Members of the public complained to the Royal Mail and its bosses launched a sting operation by putting four fake pieces of mail into his postbag to see if he delivered them.

One item was delivered, but investigators chose to search his car and house.

Karen Tunnacliffe, who prosecuted Mr Platts, said: ''They found 50 or 60 items which hadn't been opened, 54 postal packets were found on the kitchen table, and there were 1,165 addressed items in two wheelie bins.''

The sting also found 1,822 commercial leaflets - something which businesses pay the Royal Mail to deliver.

Platts, who admitted his crime, said: "I just thought it was one of those things you can get away with. I got found out and that's it."

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Reply Posted by Bob Forrest on Thursday March 7 2013 at 11:47

What areas did his round cover?

Reply Posted by kim on Thursday March 7 2013 at 11:56

What area

Reply Posted by Michelle on Thursday March 7 2013 at 11:59

I received a letter dated 2012 in a Royal Mail packet I'm just glad it wasn't anything important

Reply Posted by Dddd on Thursday March 7 2013 at 12:12

Elsecar Area i think

Reply Posted by zeitgeistdog on Thursday March 7 2013 at 12:33

"I just thought it was one of those things you can get away with. I got found out and that's it."

That's the worst statement I've heard in ages. Doing something on the premise that you can get away with it. How about not doing it because it is someone else's property? I wouldn't want anything that isn't mine. You are paid to be trusted. Not stealing is the bare minimum requirement of your job description. Your statement shows no appreciation for the fact that you have stolen from people who trusted you. You are just miffed that you got found out.
I'd throw the book at you. Sub-human scum.

Reply Posted by michelle on Thursday March 7 2013 at 12:37

ive had money taken out of birthday cards 4 of them very cleverly sliced down the edges i reported it

Reply Posted by wedge on Thursday March 7 2013 at 12:45

Its only elsicer scum

Reply Posted by SpellingTeacher on Thursday March 7 2013 at 13:50

Hey, at least we can spell Elsecar though. Back to school for you, I think

Reply Posted by kim on Thursday March 7 2013 at 12:54

At my old house we had 3 birthday cards (seperate birthdays over a year) from the other halfs parents sent from blackpool a few yrs ago all opened + notes taken out we reported it to royal mail too! Now the birthday card gets put inside a brown envelope!!!!

Reply Posted by Amy on Thursday March 7 2013 at 13:40

I hope this is my postman! I set him up to prove he'd been stealing my childrens birthday cards and what did royal mail do? Naff all!

Reply Posted by Oldpostie on Thursday March 7 2013 at 14:13

Serves him right, I used to be a postie in the old days when we did 2 deliveries and were still finished by 12.30. We also emptied mail boxes ,so if you posted a letter in the morning it could be delivered the same day. We had no time for thieves who put every one under suspicion, they get what they deserve.

Reply Posted by Michelle on Thursday March 7 2013 at 14:18

I live in town and iv received my letter and an apology note along with it..so he did town post too

Reply Posted by jackson on Thursday March 7 2013 at 17:38

Yes he was the postie in Elsecar, he's done it for years.

Reply Posted by cazi on Thursday March 7 2013 at 17:41

Did he do Hoyland as well? My nieces Xmas present never turned up. Like a donut I didn't send it recorded delivery. Its probably on his table

Reply Posted by Andy on Thursday March 7 2013 at 23:44

No wonder hmv are closing did he do the car boot sales

Reply Posted by Andy on Thursday March 7 2013 at 23:47

He was not a elvis fan and return to sender

Reply Posted by Katria on Saturday August 10 2013 at 23:27

I got a letter 08/08/13 saying my post had been taken opened letter that he took and was dated jan 12 one was car insurance asking for more details I and other was online banking details

Reply Posted by Katria on Saturday August 10 2013 at 23:29

And am from Penistone