A POST Office worker stole almost £1,000 in cash and food from his employer.

Ian Doe, of Woodlands Way, Hastings, had been working as a part-time assistant at the combined post office and village shop in Burwash, near Battle, when he committed the crime in 2019.

He appeared at Hove Crown Court on Wednesday, having pleaded guilty to the theft of £976 in cash and food from the Post Office shop.

The 50-year-old was sentenced to 14 months in prison suspended for two years and ordered to pay £2,000 in compensation to the owner, plus £400 in costs and to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and 20 hours rehabilitation work.

He was also ordered to make a donation to Witness Care.

The prosecution, authorised by the Crown Prosecution Service, followed an investigation by detectives from the East Sussex Community Investigations Team.

Detective Constable Nick Arthur said: “Ian Doe used his good standing within the community to blind people to his criminal activities, but today justice has been served with this conviction.”