A postal worker tore open children's birthday cards and stole cash inside for a "thrill".

Keith Chegwin, 43, of Treetops, High Ashton, Exeter, appeared before Exeter magistrates where he admitted two charges of theft by an employee and one of opening mail packets while being engaged as a postal operator.

Chegwin was caught red-handed by suspicious mail bosses after they set up a sting operation.

Managers at the Exeter Mail Centre, on Sowton Industrial Estate, where the defendant was employed, became concerned after linking him to several damaged post items.

In just one day, he opened 17 mail packets and stole £40 from two envelopes.

But the court heard that the full extent of his crimes was not known.

Chegwin, who admitted committing the crimes for "excitement", specifically targeted greeting cards addressed to either Miss or Master, believing they were birthday cards for children and more likely to contain cash.

The court heard that Chegwin was "grossly lacking" victim empathy and told a probation officer he would have carried on stealing had he not been caught.

He said he lived at home with his parents and would use the stolen cash to buy cigarettes or alcohol.

Chegwin described the thefts as a game and said he would "plan" how many items to open to ensure he was not caught.

Prosecuting for the Royal Mail, James Rickard said Chegwin was employed as a casual worker at the mail centre for five months before he was caught on April 27.

He said managers staged a "testing and surveillance operation" after suspicions arose around Chegwin.

"Two specially prepared greetings cards were used and the defendant was seen to open the packages throughout the course of the operation," he said.

Defending, Peter Seigne said mail bosses were unable to say how many packets were tampered with or how much money was stolen prior to the day of the surveillance sting.

The chairman of the bench told Chegwin: "We are appalled at your lack of concern towards the community and the impact of your offending on young people."

Chegwin was fined £1,500, ordered to carry out 150 hours' unpaid work and was given a two-month curfew between 7pm and 7am on Fridays and Saturdays.