A DEBT-RIDDEN post office worker stole almost £5,000 from unsuspecting customers but has escaped jail.

Instead Karen Luke has been told to do 250 hours unpaid work for the community.

A judge was told that 47-year-old Luke was truly sorry for the spate of thefts she committed while working on the disabled persons counter at the New Street Post Office in Huddersfield.

Bradford Crown Court heard that Luke, of Grange Bank Close, Dalton, had been employed as a customer services advisor at the large branch.

Prosecutor Ronald Birkett said an investigation was launched in July last year after concerns were raised about a number of duplicate transactions which were traced back to Luke’s unique user ID.

Mr Birkett said Luke was usually working at the disabled persons counter in the branch and was therefore dealing with disabled people and the elderly.

He explained how Luke would get customers to re-enter their PIN details when making a withdrawal and this allowed two payments to be logged onto the system.

“Mrs Luke then drew out an identical amount for herself which she then stole,” said Mr Birkett.