A postman from Essex who stole parcels and letters he was meant to be delivering in Suffolk and sold them on the internet has been jailed.
The postman in question has made £3,000 selling stolen DVDs on eBay, also admitted to stealing about £1,500.
The court heard the thefts took place between June 2007 and August 2008 after he was made bankrupt. He was arrested after Royal mail bosses became suspicious and mounted surveillance equipment in order to catch him in the act. Stolen mail was found in his work van, private car and home. He estimated that he had stolen £500 from charity's envelopes.
Backhouse had been a postman for Ipswich in Suffolk for almost 12 years.
Catherine Bradshaw, defending, said her client was a man of good character who had turned to crime after getting into financial difficulties and becoming depressed.
"He is disgusted with himself," she added.
Judge David Goodin said "an immense degree of trust" was imposed on postmen and he had no option but to impose a prison term.
Backhouse was told he would be eligible for parole after spending six months in jail.