A POSTMAN has admitted stealing from letters he was supposed to be delivering.

Jonathan Foden, aged 34, of Burnage Lane, Manchester, stole two £20 notes from a package in Ramsbottom on September 15 last year.

He also intentionally opened 34 greetings cards in Ramsbottom between April 28 and September 9, 2015.

Foden appeared before Bury magistrates on January 19 and admitted one count of theft and one count of breach of duty.

He was given a community order, which lasts for a year.

As part of the order, he must attend appointments and do 150 hours of unpaid work.

Foden was also ordered to pay £2,000 court costs, a £60 victim surcharge and £100 compensation. all paid at the rate of £100 per month.

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.

"We will not allow the actions of any individual to damage the good reputation of our thousands of hard-working postmen and women.

"It is a criminal offence to tamper with or delay the delivery of mail and anyone caught doing so will face serious disciplinary measures.

"Royal Mail will always seek to prosecute the tiny minority of people who abuse their position of trust."