Couple bailed for pounds 64k theft from PO.

A SUB-POSTMISTRESS and her husband have admitted stealing over pounds 64,000 from the Post Office in the space of just three months to shore up another business.

Fairbourne postmistress Annette Elizabeth North, 56, and her husband Robert Cyril North, 56, of Capel Sein, Arthog, Gwynedd, pleaded guilty at Dolgellau magistrates court yesterday to the joint theft of pounds 64,730 belong to Post Office Limited between September 18 and December 20 last year.

Jack McGarva, prosecuting, said the offences came to light when auditors visited the Fairbourne sub-post office in last December.

"Mrs North asked the officers what would happen if there were cash shortages," Mr McGarva told the court.

When asked what amount of shortage, she replied "around pounds 60,000".

When interviewed by post office investigators Mrs North said that her daughter helped with the post office but her husband ran a shop in the same premises.

The court heard that Mrs North had been the postmistress at Fairbourne since 2004.

Mr North said they both realised that what they had done was wrong.

"We do have the collateral to pay back the money. We took the wrong option to try to finance the other business and it was the wrong option," he said.

Court chairman Caerwyn Roberts referred the case to Caernarfon Crown Court on August 13 for sentence.

"The amount involved is beyond our sentencing guidelines," said the chairman and granted both unconditional bail.