A ROYAL Mail sorter from Chester has been given a curfew after he admitted “pilfering gifts” from more than 70 greetings cards.

Carl Day, 41, of Clover Lane, Lache, stole cash and gifts cards worth around £200 while he was employed as a temporary mail worker.

An investigation was started after staff noticed a “large amount” of packets had been found opened in both the main sorting centre and delivery offices.

One investigator spotted Day opening two greetings cards while he was loading a container in the early hours of July 5 this year, Chester Magistrates Court heard today.

Just over a week later they planted specially prepared ‘test packages’ containing identifiable £20 notes and a £20 Vue cinema gift card. They were all opened.

The defendant was interviewed the next day and admitted stealing around £200 worth of cash and gift cards from more than 70 packets since January.

James Bagby, defending, stressed Day had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and fully co-operated with the Royal Mail’s investigation.

“This defendant was always going to get caught,” he said. “Envelopes were discarded for anyone to find.”

The solicitor added: “He was remorseful for what had taken place. He was ashamed.”

The court heard that Day lived with his parents and was a carer for his mother. A former user of cannabis for medicinal reasons, he had accrued substantial debts.

Describing the thefts as “despicable”, magistrates sentenced him to a 12-month community order to include a 20-day rehabilitation activity and 7pm to 7am curfew for eight weeks.

Day must also pay a whopping £987 in court costs as well as £200 compensation and a victim surcharge of £85.