ROYAL Mail today said it took a zero-tolerance approach to any dishonesty by its staff.

Its comments follow a case in which a Haworth postman was given a suspended jail term for stealing items of mail.

Craig John Patrick Kirby, 30, of Victoria Avenue, admitted three offences at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates' Court.

He was charged with taking four items of an unknown value from Royal Mail between September 2 and 25 last year, six items worth a total of £30 on October 17 and nine items together worth £50 on October 22.

All the offences took place at Keighley.

Kirby was jailed for 12 weeks, suspended for a year.

He was also given a three-month electronically-monitored curfew and will be required to carry out 200 hours' unpaid work in the next 12 months.

And he was ordered to pay £180 in costs and an £80 victim surcharge.

Ronit Wolfson, for Royal Mail, told us: "Our zero-tolerance stance is shared by the overwhelming majority of postmen and women, who work hard to provide a first-class service for our customers six days a week.

"It is a criminal offence to tamper with or delay the delivery of mail, and anyone caught doing so will face serious disciplinary measures and we will always seek to prosecute the tiny minority of people who abuse their position of trust."