Gambling postmistress imprisoned

A former postmistress who stole more than £71,000 to feed her online gambling addiction has been jailed.

Janine Powell was found guilty last month of stealing from Cowleymoor Post Office in Tiverton, Devon, between March 2006 and February 2007.

Powell, 37, of Newbarn Park Road, Taunton, Somerset, was sentenced to 18 months at Truro Crown Court.

The prosecution said Powell had "literally put her hand into the till" and then covered up the thefts.

Judge Christopher Elwen told Powell: "Inevitably with gambling you were losing and seeking to recoup your losses by betting yet again, and at higher amounts, hoping everything would come right."

Moving figures

Mother-of-two Powell, who did not give evidence during her trial at Exeter Crown Court, had denied theft.

At the time of the offences Powell was living above the post office, the jury heard.

Prosecutor Andrew Oldland said Powell pretended the amount of cash in the post office was much higher than it actually was, by shifting the figures around electronically.

This enabled her to hide what she was doing from her colleagues, while the money had disappeared.

Defence counsel Patrick Mason said: "She was gambling a lot of money online. She expresses denial but everything points to an addiction."