A FORMER postie has narrowly avoided jail after stealing money from packages she was meant to deliver.

Appearing at Canterbury Magistrates' Court on Tuesday Lucy Clark, 34, of Links Close, Herne Bay, was sentenced to a 120-day jail term suspended for 12 months.

Chairman of the bench Anthony Hogben told her it was a serious crime. He added: "I am thinking of the grandparent that was sending their hard-earned cash to a grandchild but it never arrived."

Mr Hogben said that Clark's actions had caused the public to lose faith in the postal service.

Mother-of-two Clark, who was a postal worker for 11 years, pleaded guilty in January to two counts of opening packages and two counts of theft from a mailbag, between June and September 2011.

Defending, Ian Bond said that extreme stress, anxiety, depression and personal problems had caused Clark to "act in a way that was entirely out of character".

He added: "She is thoroughly ashamed of herself.

"She is reflecting on 11 honest years of working for the post office and then on it ending the way it did.

"She is an intelligent woman and understands the consequences to the individuals whose packages were interfered with."

Natasha Barnes, prosecuting for the Royal Mail, said Clark was caught after suspicious bosses planted a £10 note in a package and she stole it.

Eight open packages were discovered in the pockets of two of Clark's jackets and in her parcel tray and she admitted to stealing about £30.

She was given a 12-month community order with supervision requirements and ordered to pay £240 towards the £2,602 costs incurred bringing the case to court.