Prison postwoman cleared of stealing

The conviction of grandmother Deborah Hall was quashed by Judge Michael Challinor in her appeal at Stafford Crown Court.

The 53 year old had been found guilty by magistrates of the theft of £200 from Stafford Prison, but the conviction was rescinded. The judge said the evidence against her was circumstantial and Miss Hall 'impressed us as a diligent, careful and intelligent witness'. Miss Hall now intends to pursue a new career.

Miss Hall, of Swansmoor Road, Hixon, lost her job in the mail room at HMP Stafford following the bench's verdict on June 19 when she was given a 12-month community order, with 120 hours of unpaid community work and £200 compensation to pay.

The appeal heard that a woman in Gloucester sent £250 to a prisoner in a special delivery envelope which arrived at Stafford on Christmas Eve last year.

Giving evidence, Miss Hall said that when she opened the envelope there were only five £10 notes in it and she recorded it as such. She was supposed to get a colleague to countersign for the cash and admitted she hadn't done it.

"I haven't countersigned for a long time because of a shortage of staff," she said. It was Christmas Eve, the mail room was busy and they only had half a day to do their work and get the money in to a secure area.

Mr David Bennett, opposing the appeal, put to her: "The reality is this was Christmas time, money was tight, you spotted an opportunity and stole £200 from that envelope." But Miss Hall denied having any financial problems, gambling or drug problems and had not been threatened by any of the prisoners.

"When that recorded envelope came to me, all that was in it was five £10 notes. I didn't steal anything from that envelope."

She said she had worked in the prison mail room for almost eight years and there had never been any previous complaints about her work. Two character witnesses, friend Julie Bould and colleague Vanessa Love, described Miss Hall as 'honest' and 'caring'. "I couldn't wish to work with a better person," said Mrs Love.

"She impressed us as a diligent, careful and intelligent witness and we cannot understand how she would think she could have got away with such theft. We cannot think she would put her good name and career in peril by a theft which could easily be tracked.

"The evidence against the appellant is circumstantial."

Miss Hall, who left the court in tears, said that there was 'no way' she was going to apply for reinstatement at the prison.