A MAN involved in the widespread theft of packages from Royal Mail delivery vans was jailed for two years.

James Gibb and co-accused Kevin O'Grady followed vans as they set off on rounds and struck after the drivers parked to make deliveries.

Durham Crown Court heard they broke into the vans and grabbed packages containing thousands of pounds worth of items before the drivers returned.

They struck twice in Consett, when delivery drivers were early on rounds in May and June, 2003.

Ian Graham, prosecuting, said they were captured on town centre closed circuit TV footage, in the first case, while a householder watched them leaving the scene of the second incident with packages, getting into a waiting Citroen ZX car.

They escaped with goods worth £25,500 from the two thefts in Consett, but were arrested after a delivery driver became suspicious of their 'unhealthy interest' following his van in the Citroen, in Carlisle, Cumbria, later in June.

Police were alerted and arrested the pair in the Citroen. A screwdriver used in the Consett thefts was recovered.

Mr Graham said mobile phones also seized from the car were analysed enabling the pair to be placed in the Consett area on the days of the previous mail thefts.

The court heard that several months later, while on bail, the pair were captured on security camera footage near the scene of a further mail van theft in Guildford, Surrey.

Gibb, 43, of Newton Heath, and 40-year-old O'Grady, of Miles Platting, both Manchester, each admitted conspiracy to steal from the Royal Mail at previous hearings.

Richard Vardon, for Gibb, said following personal tragedies he turned to heavy drinking and drug taking, falling into debt with loan sharks, in 2002.

"He was a soft target to be recruited into almost any criminal enterprise."

Mr Vardon said Gibb's role was merely as the driver, for which he was paid £3,000.

Jailing Gibb, Judge Esmond Faulks said they appeared to be 'well-planned' thefts which required an element of pre-surveillance.

Judge Faulks issued a warrant for the arrest of O'Grady, who failed to appear at court for sentence last Friday.