A DRIVER who stole Newcastle United merchandise he was supposed to deliver cost his company a £250,000 contract with the football club.

Douglas McIntosh, 41, forged customers' signatures and sold their goods to a market trader to get money for Christmas, Durham Crown Court heard.

When Newcastle United found out, they cancelled their deal with his employer, Amtrak Express Parcels, based on Seaham Grange Industrial Estate.

McIntosh, of St Cuthbert's Road, Newbottle, was employed to deliver goods to the Consett and Stanley areas, from April last year.

Jenny Haigh, prosecuting, said: "The depot manager became aware of several discrepancies on his delivery sheets.

"It was discovered customers had appeared to sign for deliveries on items they did not have."

Along with the football merchandise, McIntosh stole a DVD hamper box and goods destined for Komatsu UK, in Birtley. The value of goods taken was £634.

When arrested, McIntosh initially claimed he tried to deliver the packages, but had been unable to do so, before admitting he sold them.

Martin Towers, mitigating, said he was a man of previous good character, the value of goods stolen was low and the theft was committed over a relatively short period of time.

He said: "The question that screams out from this case is why did he do it, having been in this employment for a long time?

"It seems extraordinary that he should have committed this breach of trust when the amount of money was relatively small.

He expresses regret."

Mr Towers said McIntosh has since found another delivery job, for North-East Express, at Houghton-le-Spring.

His new employers are aware of the theft, the court heard.

Sentencing him, Recorder Charles Ekins said: "People who work for mail delivery or parcel delivery companies occupy a special position of trust.

"You have the capacity, if dishonest, both to destroy or damage very considerably the trust that the public reposes in such companies and you have the ability to do untold damage to the companies for whom you work.

"You lost a contract of enormous value."

McIntosh pleaded guilty to one charge of theft and was sentenced to eight months in jail.

He also admitted breaching bail and was given a one-day jail sentence, to run concurrently.