Australia post worker failed to deliver thousands of letters - and buried half of them in a forest
- Jodi Caroline Maria Dickason, 34, stole 3,700 letters from May to July 2019
- The mother-of-six was employed by Australia Post in Capel, West Australia
- But she failed to deliver thousands of parcels including credit cards and licences
- Police found half at various homes and the others buried in a local forest
A female postie stole thousands of letters before burying unwanted items in a nearby forest.
Jodi Caroline Maria Dickason, 34, failed to deliver 3,700 letters, and packages during her stint at Australia Post in the shire of Capel in West Australia.
The mail theft occurred over a three month period between May and July last year, when she was experiencing a breakup involving domestic violence and drugs.
Jodi Caroline Maria Dickason, 34, failed to deliver 3,700 letters, and packages during her stint at Australia Post in the shire of Capel in West Australia (stock image)
The mother-of-six feigned 'shock and surprise', when police discovered half of the items opened inside various houses where she resided, reported ABC News.
Around half the remaining items were discovered by someone walking through the Tuart Forest National Park.
The lost mail included private identification documents including drivers' licences, credit cards and Medicare cards.
She told police she was using her house as a halfway point during deliveries, which could have resulted in the mail being displaced.
But she denied having opened the letters despite the fact they were found inside her premises.
Ms Dickason faced Bunbury Magistrates Court on Friday where she sentenced to 12 months' jail, suspended for two years.
The court heard the 34-year-old had been working for Australia Post delivering mail across the shire of Capel for a decade.
Around half the remaining items were discovered by someone walking through the Tuart Forest National Park (pictured)
Dickason's defence lawyer, Ian Macfarlane told the court she had been struggling during the time due to a breakup involving domestic violence and drugs.
The state prosecutor Sean Dworcan argued she deserved to go to jail over the offences which impacted thousands of organisations.
He also argued her actions had damaged the community's trust and 'deceived her mother and sister'.
Magistrate Robert Young ruled she was responsible for the theft, but took into account her lack of criminal record in handing down the sentence.
'You were entrusted by the community to deliver their mail and you failed to do that,' Magistrate Young said.
Comments 0
Share what you think
No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.
