A NEWPORT man has been jailed after stealing parcels whilst employed as a delivery driver which caused more than £50,000 of loss for companies across the UK.

Lyndon Linton, aged 58, of Ringwood Place, was sentenced to 32 months imprisonment after admitting eight counts of theft by an employee and one count of money laundering.

The former Hermes delivery driver was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court after he stole parcels and sold them on eBay.

PC Nichola Kelly, of Gwent Police, who led the investigation said: "This was a lengthy investigation whereby Lyndon Linton abused his position of trust to steal parcels he was meant to be delivering. This caused inconvenience to potentially hundreds of people within the Gwent area and over £50,000 worth of loss for companies across the UK.

"Not only did Lyndon Linton abuse his position in the company, he also allowed other workmates to take the blame for his offending, for which they lost their jobs. This was not apparent until the police investigation began."

She added: "Gwent Police treat abuses of trust extremely seriously and will work tirelessly in order to identify those responsible and bring offenders to justice."

Linton's co-defendants Nadine Linton, aged 30, of Dents Hill, Newport and Steven Bishop, 29, of Ladyhill Road, Newport, were both given 12 month prison sentences suspended for 18 months for one count of money laundering.