A thieving postie who pocketed gift cards for 18 months is to keep his five-figure Royal Mail pension.

When Richard Dobbs appeared for sentence for his stealing, it turned out to be another red letter day for him.

Devious Dobbs was allowed to return to his home in King Edward Road, Birchington after the judge suspended his prison sentence.

The 59-year-old dad-of-three had admitted five thefts and three frauds committed while working as a postman - and using some of the vouchers to buy himself a pair of blue suede shoes.

He was trapped when his bosses planted marked cards on his rounds – and confronted him.

Dodds immediately resigned before formal charges were brought, thus allowing him to keep his £65,000 pension pot.

Canterbury Crown Court heard how Dobbs had joined the Royal Mail in 2006 after running his own printing business.

Prosecutor Gwen Williamson said that in December 2015 Royal Mail officials noted mail was vanishing - mainly gift vouchers contained in birthday or congratulations cards.

“They were being taken from the post, although it was noted that they were being spent and complaints were being made," she added.

In May 2016 an investigation began and the marked ‘test’ cards were planted on his rounds.

“He was found to have taken those cards and he was searched and investigators found him carrying a £10 gift card on him when he was stopped.

“His home was then searched and investigators found a number of pairs of socks, a belt, a pair of jeans, a v-neck jumper, a purse, three pairs of chinos, and a pair of blue suede shoes.

“In his car was found gift cards from Monsoon, a film complex, Accessorize and four for Next. Also found were an old £1 note and coins, all of which had been taken from the mail.”

"You should be ashamed. The public is entitled to trust the mail system and dishonesty by those working for the service serves to undermine the postal service as a whole" - Judge Simon James, to Dobbs

Ms Williamson told the court that investigators were able to view CCTV footage from some of the shops which revealed it was Dobbs who was cashing the vouchers, including a £15 Waitrose voucher which he used to buy wine.

Dobbs was quizzed and admitted pilfering for 18 months, taking between 20 to 25 gift cards a week and £100 in cash.

The prosecutor added: “He couldn’t explain why he took them because he didn’t have any financial problems. He was happily married and had a house and a car all paid for.

“He said it had been a stupid and idiotic thing to have done.”

A probation report said there had been “a degree of thrill seeking”.

The prosecutor told the judge that despite his thieving, Dobbs still qualifies for his £64,000 pension “because he chose to resign rather than be sacked”.

Phil Rowley, defending, said Dobbs became depressed “although that’s no way a justification” and added: “It wasn’t driven by greed.”

Judge Simon James gave him a 12-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months and ordered him to do 200 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay £4,500 costs and £246 in compensation.”

The judge told him: “You should be ashamed. The public is entitled to trust the mail system and dishonesty by those working for the service serves to undermine the postal service as a whole.”

He added that Dobbs had dragged down the reputation of thousands of his “honest and hard-working” former colleagues.

The ex-postie believed he had been wrongly treated by his bosses because of an ailment so decided to help himself to vouchers.

“Your offending wasn’t out of any need or desperation. It was motivated by greed and self-pity", the judge added.