A YORK postman has been jailed for six months for stealing hundreds of pounds from letters he should have been delivering.

Peter Jackson, of Spalding Drive in Clifton, was yesterday given a 26 week prison sentence by magistrates in York.

Jackson had been caught after customers on his round started to complain that cards had arrived with cash and gift cards missing.

The court heard that in March, Royal Mail's own investigators began planting test letters among the mail for Jackson's round and later found they were delivered after being opened and resealed, and with cash missing.

Pupils who boarded at St Peter's School were among the victims, Royal Mail barrister George Hazel-Owram, told the magistrates.

When Jackson, 35, was first interviewed on March 10 this year, he told investigators he had no involvement in the thefts, but later admitted that he had been stealing from the post for nine months.

His house was also searched and investigators found post which should have been delivered in 2014, as well as torn-up greetings cards.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of delaying or opening mail, itself a criminal offence, and three charges of multiple thefts amounting to £675.

Defending him, solicitor Liam Hassan said Jackson was "very remorseful" about his crimes, which has sprung from addictions to alcohol and gambling.

Mr Hassan added: "He is not a man who has attended court being blasé about his situation."

Sentencing him, magistrates said they felt the sentence had to reflect the degree of trust which had been placed in Jackson.

The chairman added: "The offences are so serious that only a custodial offence is sufficient."

Magistrates ordered Jackson to pay £675 in compensation, as well as £3,652 in costs and an £80 court surcharge; and said he would be subject to requirements for 12 months after his prison sentence.

Speaking after the hearing, a Royal Mail spokesman said: "Royal Mail has a zero tolerance approach to any dishonesty and that stance is shared by the overwhelming majority of postmen and women, who are honest and hardworking and who do all they can to protect the mail and deliver it safely.

"The safety and security of mail is of the utmost importance to this business and Royal Mail will not allow the actions of any individual to damage the good reputation of our thousands of hard-working postmen and women."