This week 60 years ago: Holloway postman jailed for stealing £1

A Holloway postman who stole money sent from a bookmaker to winning punters was sentenced to 18 months in prison.

George Allder, 48, of Cottenham House, Bavaria Road, had been stealing clients’ letters for a year. They had been sent by Sherman Pools.

Allder had been a postman since 1937, but was caught in a sting after a trap was laid in the sorting office. A test letter with a £1 note was placed in his sorting tray. When questioned, the letter was still in his posession.

Sentencing the ex-serviceman at the Old Bailey, judge Gerald Dobson said: “It’s terribly sad to see a good man go wrong. All Post Office officials know what must follow if they are convicted of dishonesty, but it is with great regret that one has to impose a term of imprisonment.”