This is the stolen mail Carl Forrest hides behind his mailbox after admitting to stealing over £11,000 in cash and gift cards.
The postman with sticky fingers brazenly opened hundreds of private letters, birthday cards, and other packages of cash and gift cards and set them up for himself.
But he was eventually caught after he was identified using gift cards at a number of stores.
Amazingly, the 41-year-old from Meadowvale Park, Limavady, has continued his campaign of deception and robbery for more than six years.
At Antrim Crown Court on Wednesday, Forrest filed guilty pleas for each of the 10 counts against him – three of theft and seven of committing fraud by false representation on various dates between January 1, 2013 and August 7, 2019.
While the theft charge relates to dozens of gift cards, commemorative coins and cash in a range of currencies, the fraud charges relate to Forrest’s use of stolen gift cards at a range of stores including Debenhams, Next, Marks and Spencer, Ulster Stores, and at Rowe Park Resort.
On Thursday we encountered Forrest at his cozy suburban home, but he was reluctant to talk about his crimes.
«The case is not over yet, so I can’t speak but I will speak in December after the verdict,» he told us.
He added that it was a «difficult period» and confirmed that he intended to pay compensation to all his victims for what they lost.
The court was told the day before how Forrest was prepared to pay the full £11,500 and time would tell if that was enough to stop him from going to jail.
During the brief court hearing, none of the facts were opened, but with defense attorney Damien Halleron asserting that Forrest was «in a position to be fully compensated», prosecutors Michael Chambers suggested he put £11,500 into his lawyer’s account and it could be after It spread to his victims.
Mr. Halleron told the court that in addition to a pre-sentence report, he would file a psychiatric report on Forrest’s behalf.
Judge Patricia Smith, releasing the self-confessed thief after his continued bail, said she would issue a sentence on December 15.
