A sub-postmaster is facing jail after admitting using pension books from dead people to claim the money himself.

Kerry Peck, 48, who runs Tye Green Post Office Stores in Braintree, stole £2,804.32.

Magistrates heard how Peck, who also lives at the post office in Evelyn Wood Road, had kept two pension books, which should have been sent back to the Benefits Agency when the pensioners died.

When he appeared at Witham Magistrates' Court on Monday, he admitted two charges of theft.

Sonia Kalsi, prosecuting for the Post Office, told the court Peck had been able to obtain £840.91 by making seven false claims from one of the books and £1,963.41 by making 19 claims from the second.

She said: "The Benefits Agency contacted the Post Office but was told the books had been returned and that the correct documents had been filled in."

The court was told that after an investigation by the agency, Peck had admitted taking the money.

Peck said he had been left scared after an armed robbery at his Post Office in 1997.

Because of that incident, he said he wanted to sell the business and attempted to make it look more profitable by using the pension book money.

He did this by putting the money into the store account instead of the post office account.

Martin Jones, mitigating, said the robbery had left Peck a changed man, who felt trapped working in the post office and needed counselling.

He added: "It was quite a serious robbery where a firearm was discharged.

"It left a very, very large shadow on this man's life and has controlled his character and behaviour ever since."

Magistrates told Peck: "This is so serious an offence that a custodial sentence is a not out of the question."

The case was adjourned for pre-sentence reports.

By Martin Buxton

Reporter's e-mail: martin_buxton@thisisessex.co.uk

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