Gary Conway plundered cash, cheques, mobile phones and SIM cards from packages when he worked at the Royal Mail's North Tyneside Delivery Office between 2005 and 2007.

And when caught the 43-year-old told investigating officers he stole the goods to fund his drug habit, which had "hit big time" since the breakdown of his marriage.

Conway, of Trevor Terrace in North Shields, admitted six charges of theft when he appeared at Newcastle Crown Court.

Jailing him for 12 months Mr Recorder Tim Hirst told Conway: "You repeatedly helped yourself to packets and letters which clearly contained valuable items.

"It is vital that public confidence in this system is not affected by your crimes.

"The mail is vital to businesses and to individuals."

Paul Caulfield, prosecuting at crown court, said Conway's thefts came to light when a phone company failed to receive a package containing 30 SIM cards.

Over the next few months suspicions were raised when the company was billed £7,000 for unknown phone accounts set up on the missing cards.

And when they contacted the Royal Mail, investigating officers discovered Conway, who had worked at the company for more than seven years, had kept the package and sold on the items, keeping one SIM card for himself.

Conway, classed as a high grade postman, also helped himself to cheques and mobile phones, which he said he would sell or pass straight to his drug dealers.

He also stole Australian dollars, Thai bahts and Turkish lira from letters sent to the delivery office.

"The defendant also admitted stealing £10,000 from the office's cash tin over a two-year period," said Mr Caulfield.

John Elvidge, defending, said Conway was of previous good character and his life had fallen apart after the breakdown of his marriage.

When questioned by officers Conway criticised the lax security arrangements at the Royal Mail and said he would expose how easy it was to get away with theft, Mr Caulfield added.

But Recorder Hirst said: "The Royal Mail is a very large organisation.

"It is difficult or nearly impossible for the system to operate if people are being constantly supervised.

"Trust is vital.

"These are clearly offences for which I have to impose a custodial sentence."