A DISABLED charity worker sold unmarked used stamps to a businessman potentially cheating the Post Offfice out of up to £8,000.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Alan Sanderson, 58, who has severe arthritis and sells stamps on the Internet to collectors, told police the proceeds of the scam went to charity - and his barrister told how the former miner had raised almost £20,000 for deserving causes.

Sanderson's good works were commended by a judge, who said he was impressed with his acheivements, but he added the defendant seemed to have a flaw in his character that had led him into trouble.

Judge Andrew Blake warned him that if he did it again he would go to prison and that would not be easy for him.

The judge, who conditionally discharged the defendant for 12 months, said it might be that he was being too generous and that Sanderson, who had his own website, could have made some money for himself and continued to raise cash. He added: "Maybe that was a cover. That would provide some explanation as to why investigations in 1998 didn't seem to stop you."

Sanderson, of Broken Banks, Colne, admitted fraudulently fixing stamps and attempting dishonestly to obtain postal services by deception. He must also pay £600 costs. He asked for four offences to be considered. Phillip Standfast, prosecuting for the Post Ofice, said staff in Preston last February noticed a sack of mail which had stamps on it which had been put on with an adhesive label.

Post Office Investigations were notified and in May a similar posting was discovered with some of the stamps bearing signs of previous use. The packages had been posted by a firm of printers responsible for posting on the contents, a brochure for a company called Sporting Memorabilia. The stamped envelopes had been supplied by the firm's owner.

Sanderson was later arrested and a number of self adhesive labels were recovered as well as a drying book for stamps.

Mr Standfast said Sanderson admitted supplying the firm with stamps but said at that stage he did not intend the owner should use them. He said he got stamps in bulk for charity, removed them from envelopes and put them on labels which had ended up on the packages sent by the firm's owner.

The defendant accepted almost £4,000 from the owner's bank account had gone to pay him and said he had paid the proceeds to charity. Receipts were recovered which showed a lot of money had been paid to worthy causes.

Robert Crawford, defending, said Sanderson was obsessed by charity work. A former miner, he was struck down with rheumatoid arthritis 14 years ago, had great difficulty moving and was in considerable pain.

The defendant had become housebound and took solace in charity work, selling stamps. Sanderson had not made a penny from this but about £17,000 had been raised for various causes and his work had helped many people.