A POSTMASTER and his young lover went on a spending spree and enjoyed a romantic break in Paris while stealing £145,000 in pensions and benefits.

Edward Thomas, 52, and 21-year-old Sarah Harter, were today both beginning jail sentences after admitting conspiracy to defraud in a scam that spanned three counties.

The couple, who worked together at Waterfoot post office, were aided by counter clerk Michael Bridge as they cashed in 546 paid orders from payment books ordered for pensioners and other people on benefits.

They targeted post offices in Lancashire, Greater Manchester and County Durham during a 14-month period, Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester was told.

Harter saved more than £2,500 before moving into a new flat, spent £1,025 at a jewellers in Manchester and paid for a break in Paris in February 2003, where the couple took pictures at the top of the Eiffel Tower.

They got engaged and enjoyed the high life while pensioners turning up at the post office counter for new pension books were told they had not arrived and new ones would be ordered, said Mr David McLachlan, prosecuting.

Thomas and his two accomplices used a foil key to override the computer scanning system and cash the money orders.

Suspicion fell on Thomas, of Deerplay Drive, Bacup, and Harter, of Dobbin Lane, Rawtenstall, after the theft of 10 benefit books from Belmont Care Home in Preston on February 9, 2004.

Mr McLachlan told the court: "Edward Thomas served as a sub-postmaster at Waterfoot post office in Rossendale for 13 years.

"In October 2003, he sold the business and was supposed to retire due to ill health.

"Sarah Harter and Michael Bridges worked for Thomas at Waterfoot post office, and when Mr Thomas left in October 2003, they continued in their posts.

"Despite Edward Thomas' ill health, he continued to work in post offices around the country at Timperley, Gilesgate, Durham, and Whalley in Wigan. Between April 2003 and June 2004, at least 546 paid orders from 64 different benefits books were cashed."

Sentencing Thomas to 27 months and Harter to 13 months in jail, Judge Jonathon Geeke said: "This is an extremely sad day for both of you and your family who had hopes about your futures."

Harter had a previous conviction for theft from an employer and she was cautioned for the offence involving alcohol in July, the court heard.

Thomas also has two previous convictions for criminal damage.

Steven Levine, defending Thomas, said Thomas was a man of previously good character who now faced bankruptcy. He said: "He paid to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower, he spent stolen money on expensive furniture, there is nothing left. He is going bankrupt.

"All the problems stem from his divorce, as his previous convictions of criminal damage follow an argument with his wife."

Stella Massey, defending Harter, said her client was a young girl who has just turned 21 and was "nave".

"She is sorry for the effect this has had on her family, especially her mother who is very poorly."

Bridges, 20, of Burnley Road East, Waterfoot, got 100 hours community service at an earlier hearing.