A postman who stole debit cards and pin numbers from two bank customers and used the details to withdraw more than £3,000 in cash, was fined and ordered to carry out more than 200 hours of unpaid work.

Arulampalam Balenthiran, 47, who lives in Red Lion Road, Tolworth, had pleaded guilty to 11 counts of theft and was sentenced at Kingston Crown Court on December 17.

He stole £300 a time from two unwitting Royal Mail customers in March, racking up a total of £3,300 from their accounts.

He was ordered to pay a fine of £3,000 within six months or face three months in prison.

He was also given a 12 month prison sentence suspended for 18 months, a £100 victim surcharge fine and told to pay Lloyds bank £400 and prosecution costs of £2,000.

Balenthiran who had admitted taking 599 items of post between July 8 and August 17 was also told to carry out 200 hours of community service within the next year under the supervision of the probation service.