A COURIER has been warned he could face jail after he stole almost £6,000-worth of parcels from his employer.

Dawid Orzazewski pleaded guilty to the offence on Wednesday afternoon when he appeared before magistrates sitting in Swindon, having previously confessed to police during interview to the theft from Hermes’ Swindon depot.

Crown prosecutor Nick Barr told the court the South Marston-based depot had a rigorous system in place to track parcels as they came in and out of the depot.

Mr Barr explained the theft came to light after a woman out for a walk from Didcot to Upton with her child encountered 25-year-old Orzazewski from Ockley Brook, Didcot. He approached her and asked to use her phone and she noticed a car behind him that was full of items. Concerned by what she had seen she called the police.

"Upon arrival at the scene the police found the car full of boxes and parcels," said Mr Barr. "He was arrested and they went to his property where they found numerous other items that had been taken from the depot. In interview he made full admissions. It is a serious breach of trust."

It is believed the number of parcels stolen between June 13 and June 22 amounted to around £5926.98 of goods.

Adjourning matters, chairman of the bench Jonathan Chappell told him: "Because of the seriousness of the offence and the likelihood that the sentence may well be a custodial sentence."

He also said that a Polish interpreter would be arranged for his next hearing, and urged Orzazewski to seek legal advice, as he had been represented by the duty solicitor during this hearing.

He will next appear at Swindon Magistrates’ Court on September 16. In the meantime he was released on unconditional bail.