Prolific Bradford thief snatched parcels from back of Royal Mail van

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Thomas Ward has been jailed after stealing from the van in Bradford city centre

A prolific criminal has been jailed for 10 months after he and an accomplice snatched parcels from the back of a Royal Mail van in Bradford .

The duo struck last month while the vehicle was parked up in Westgate in Bradford city centre.

A court heard that they were spotted by members of the public fleeing the scene in a Citroen car with the seven stolen parcels stuffed into the boot.

Bradford Crown Court heard today (Fri) that it was not known what was in the parcels, but Judge Jonathan Rose told 25-year-old Thomas Ward that they could have contained a gift, money or even medical supplies.


“The mail is, and should be, sacrosanct,” said the judge.

He said confidence in the Royal Mail was shattered when people like Ward stole items from the back of a van.

The court heard that Ward, of Parrott Street, Bradford, already had 45 convictions for 100 offences on his record and last December he was released on prison licence.

Later that month Ward and another man carried out a planned theft at the Asda store in Lidget Green, Bradford.


Prosecutor Martin Robertshaw told the court how the pair grabbed crates of Jack Daniels whisky while in the store and then ran out through a fire exit and into a getaway car.


The stolen bottles of whisky were said to be worth £500.

Ward pleaded guilty to two theft charges and Judge Rose sentenced him to a total of 10 months in prison.

Barrister Emma Downing, for Ward, said he had resorted to offending to get money after he had trouble claiming benefits and was refused an emergency loan.