Jamie Ronald Hurley, 20, had been drinking when he took the bag from the pavement on Park Road, in Orrell, as he walked to a friend's house.

Mike Ardern, prosecuting, told a hearing at Wigan Magistrates Court, how Hurley, of Orrell Road, Orrell, then opened two parcels from inside the unattended mailbag before discarding it over a garden wall.

He said: "The postman had left it there whilst he delivered some mail because it was too heavy to carry.
"This is not uncommon in the postal service, but when he came back to get it, it had disappeared.

"He knocked on one house after another to find it and eventually found a couple who said they had already phoned the police because they had seen the bag being taken."

Acting on information given by the couple, the police were led to a house on Park Road where they discovered Hurley and a female friend.

Both were arrested and taken to the police station where they admitted the offence. Hurley's friend was cautioned and released.

Hurley, who has two previous convictions, told police he had been to the shop when he discovered the bag, but said it was his friend who had suggested he take it. He admitted he had sung the theme tune to Postman
Pat as the pair looked at the mail and revealed they had opened two parcels containing books, before throwing the bag over a nearby garden wall.

Hurley, who was not represented in court, told magistrates: "It was just a drunken mistake, a spur of the moment thing that went wrong.

"We didn't see the postman leave it there, we just saw a bag lying on
the street. As soon as the police came we admitted everything.

"I feel really sorry about it, it was a bit of a pointless exercise which shouldn't have happened."

Magistrates told Hurley that he could easily have been sent to prison for the offence but for his mother's decision to speak up for him in court.

His mother had earlier told the court how her son, who is also her employee as an apprentice welder, had behaved well during the past 12 months and had only been in trouble when mixing with a certain crowd.
She said: "He has kept away from them for a while and has been belting, he has also been brilliant at work and at college.

"It is only when he has been drinking and with that gang that he gets into trouble. We are encouraging him to stay away as he is keen to join the Army when he finishes his apprenticeship."

Hurley was sentenced to a six month community order with a requirement to attend an attendance centre in Bolton for 36 hours.
He was also ordered to pay £60 costs.