A PARCEL Force delivery driver who had received an employee of the month award has been jailed for four months for stealing packages he was meant to deliver.

Preston Crown Court was told that when the thefts came to light, police went to the home of John Curran and found a Dyson cleaner he had not delivered and stolen computers.

Curran, 36, of Lord Street, Rishton, pleaded guilty to theft of the cleaner and a dinner set. He also admitted three counts of handling stolen goods relating to the computers.

Mr Roger Green, prosecuting, said that since 1998 Curran had been employed by Parcel Force.

He would deliver packages from the Blackburn depot and distribute them to areas in Hyndburn and Rossendale. He was responsible for collecting items from customers to be returned. On December 22, Curran was supposed to deliver a Dyson cleaner to a customer in Darwen but he did not.

On January 24, Curran collected a dinner set worth £71.99 to be returned to the manufacturer. It had not been seen since, Mr Green told the court.

Matters came to light when a colleague saw items in Curran's van which had no addresses on and they were taken to the depot supervisor.

When Curran's home was searched, the Dyson cleaner was found and the stolen computers. Mr Green said there was no evidence to suggest the computers were connected with Parcel Force.

Mr Richard Bennett, defending, said Curran was of positive good character. He accepted he had acted with "extreme stupidity". bringing shame on himself and his family.