A security firm driver stole packages sent to eBay customers and then resold them on the internet auction site.

Nicholas Silvey, 31, made almost £18,000 from the scam.

He was caught by an alert eBay customer who saw items he had bought readvertised and tipped off the police and courier firm UPS.

A haul of undelivered goods Silvey stole was found at his Crawley home, Hove Crown Court was told.

The exact value of the stolen items will be decided at a proceeds of crime hearing.

Ann Toynbee, prosecuting, said Silvey worked for UPS at its Gatwick depot between March 2005 and December 2006.

She said: "An eBay customer bought a set of fog lights for a Mitsubishi Gallant in an auction on November 1 last year.

"They were supposed to be delivered by UPS but never arrived.

"The same fog lights were advertised again on eBay on November 13.

"The seller was identified as Silvey, and UPS and the police were notified. His house was searched and a large number of items sent via UPS were recovered.

"The value of the 58 items addressed through UPS is estimated to be £17,934."

Silvey admitted to police he had stolen the packages while working for UPS.

He said parcels were sometimes wrongly loaded on to his van.

Silvey said he dropped them off at his home on the way back to the UPS depot at the end of his delivery run.

He told police he had financial problems over payments to the Child Support Agency.

Silvey, of Norfolk Close, Bewbush, Crawley, pleaded guilty to theft by an employee at an earlier hearing.

He will be sentenced after the proceeds of crime hearing on January 24.