Postmistress stole £20,000 after ram raid

A postmistress stole £20,000 to keep her village shop going after ram-raiders left her with a bill of thousands of pounds for repairs, a court heard today.

Jacqueline Davies, 55, cashed seven Post Office Giro cheques after the raid on her sub-post office in Waltham Chase, Hants. She admitted stealing £20,396.51.

A judge at Portsmouth Crown Court said she would be spared a jail term. Davies wept as she was sentenced to 200 hours' community-service and told she had to pay the cash back. She was also ordered to make a £1,500 contribution to PO costs.

Davies is now selling the shop. Martyn Booth, defending, said Davies used the money to pay wages and for new stock.

"She was not using the money to live a life of luxury," he said.