A Parcelforce driver who pilfered £11,000 of items claimed he owed money to Bulgarian loan sharks.

Milan Gergov worked for Royal Mail's Parcelforce in Chieftan Close, Gillingham, for seven months.

Prosecutor Oliver Kirk said while the 39-year-old was employed, 31 items were reported missing, with an estimated value of £11,523.

Maidstone Crown Court heard how investigators probing missing deliveries along route 220 found the week he wasn't working in July, there were no such issues.

Mr Kirk said: "Each parcel packet has a unique barcoded reference number which is electronically scanned at various points to monitor its progress throughout the collection, distribution and delivery network.

"This enables Parcelforce Worldwide to identify what date and time the postal packet is handled and at which location."

Investigators tracked how a missing Apple computer, which should have been delivered in Sittingbourne, was later sold for £847 on eBay.

Mr Kirk added: "A second Apple computer which had been due for delivery to an address in Folkestone was later registered by "Lina Georgieva".

Officials searched Gergov's home in New Road, Rochester, and discovered sports footwear, electrical goods and a bike.

He later admitted stealing the 32 items, saying he had kept some of the property but sold the rest on eBay.

Mr Kirk added Gergov had given a friend about five or six pairs of trainers to sell online and admitted selling the recovered bicycle to his landlord.

The Bulgarian national said he had financial problems and needed money to buy medication, pay his rent and repair his vehicle.

Zander Goss, defending, said his client borrowed money from a loan shark who had then threatened to "visit his mother" in Bulgaria unless the money was repaid.

The thief received a 16-month jail sentence, suspended for two years.

He was also ordered to do 280 hours of unpaid community work and told to pay £500 prosecution costs.

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