A worker at a national secure shredding centre stole more than £6,000 worth of Post Office savings stamps which should have been destroyed, Worcester Crown Court was told.

The savings stamps were found at Matthew Capewell's home in Hipkiss Gardens, Droitwich Spa, after an investigation by the Royal Mail and police, said John Dove, prosecuting.

Also discovered after a search of Capewell's car and his home were 40 other items from the centre, including DVDs and CDs.

Capewell, aged 35, pleaded guilty to stealing 1,328 £5 savings stamps worth a total of £6,640 and obtaining £30 by deception by cashing some of them. He also admitted stealing the DVDs and the other items.

Recorder David Aubrey QC described it as "a serious breach of trust" which normally merited custody.

But he was suspending the prison sentence because of Capewell's good character and testimonials submitted on his behalf.

The 36-week jail sentence was suspended for two years and he ordered Capewell to do 200 hours unpaid work for the community and pay £500 costs.

Capewell worked at the Hallmark company's centre at Hemel Hempstead where employees signed a contract acknowledging they would be prosecuted if material was taken away, said Mr Dove.

An investigation was launched after £30 worth of savings stamps were redeemed at Droitwich Post Office in February last year.

Capewell readily admitted taking the stamps, but claimed there was a culture of theft at the centre and the management "turned a blind eye."

Aron Rollin, defending, submitted several references and said that Capewell, who had no previous convictions, had pleaded guilty at an early stage of the case.