Delivery driver sent to prison for stealing parcels by exploiting distribution system at DHL warehouse in Leeds

Abdul Kalam was locked up for nine months after a court heard how he exploited the parcel distribution system at the company's depot in Morley to steal high-value items.

Kalam, who has a history of dishonesty offences dating back 25 years, carried out the deception in January this year when he was working as a delivery driver.

Elizabeth Noble, prosecuting, said items arriving at the depot are placed on a conveyor belt before being distributed to drivers who are instructed to wait with their vehicles in a designated parking bay.

Ms Noble said Kalam breached procedures by going into the depot and also driving his vehicle inside the premises in order to steal items.

Kalam was caught after staff reported items missing and CCTV footage at the depot was checked.

The 39-year-old defendant was seen parking outside the building on January 13 and going inside.

Kalam then removed a printer from a conveyor belt.

Ms Noble said neither of the items had been allocated to Kalam for his delivery round and they were never returned to the depot.

On January 15 he was seen taking items of clothing from the conveyor belt and putting them onto his van.

Two days later he drove into the depot and parked near to where bulky items were stored and loaded a portable garage, worth £690, onto his van before driving away.

The prosecutor said Kalam parked the vehicle so he could not be fully observed by CCTV cameras.

Kalam made no comment when he was first interviewed about the offending.

He then admitted taking the items when shown the CCTV footage in a second interview.

The father-of-five said he sold the TV and printer and gave the portable garage to his friend.

Kalam, of New Fields Walk, Bradford, pleaded guilty to one offence of theft and one of fraud.

He has previous convictions for fraud and theft from an employer.

Jessica Heggie, mitigating, said Kalam had been employed as a driver for the company through a third party contractor.

Ms Heggie said her client had not been paid his wages and has still not received the money he is owed by the contractor.

The barrister said Kalam took the items as he was desperate for money to pay bills and to support his family.

Judge Christopher Batty told Kalam he was imposing an immediate custodial sentence due to his previous convictions for dishonesty and because the offending was a breach of trust.

He said: "They are vulnerable systems that are easy to exploit.

"Delivery drivers, particularly in this pandemic, are doing a sterling job bringing items to customers.

"(The offending) is like a postman taking post. It may not be large amounts but it undermines the integrity of the system.

"You will have to go to custody. The time has come."