A RED-FACED mail worker has dodged jail after being caught stealing penis enlargement pills from the post.
Stephan Brooks was spotted by his boss using a penknife to slice open a parcel at a Royal Mail sorting office.
Investigators placed the thief, 47, under surveillance for two days and watched as he opened parcels to see if there was anything inside worth stealing.
He put back what he didn't want but officials were stunned when he pocketed a pot of VigRX penis enlargement pills.
Brooks, of Benfleet, Essex, also stole cash, Ray-Ban sunglasses, cuff links and a harmonica before turning himself over to cops when confronted by security staff at the depot in Chelmsford, Essex.
But he walked free from Chelmsford Magistrates' Court with a six-month suspended sentence after admitting two counts of theft and three charges of unlawfully opening Royal Mail packages.
He was also ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.
John Downing, chairman of the bench, told him: "You have pleaded guilty to five offences of premeditated thefts which is a serious breach of trust and causes an erosion of public confidence in the postal service."
Speaking afterwards James Eadie, spokesman for the Royal Mail, said "every item of mail is important to us".
He added: "Royal Mail has a zero-tolerance approach to any dishonesty and this stance is shared by the overwhelming majority of postmen and women who are honest and hard-working and who do all they can to protect the mail and deliver it safely.
"We will always seek to prosecute the tiny majority of people who abuse their position of trust."
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