Post Office thief ‘also stole from blind OAP’

A POST Office worker facing jail for stealing more than £33,000 from a pensioner also stole cash from a 90-year-old blind woman, her family claimed today.

Nadeem Amjid appeared in court last week to admit stealing tens of thousands of pounds from 89-year-old Marjorie Mills while working at Colinton Mains Post Office.

The new allegation of theft from an elderly customer comes as Amjid, a promising middleweight boxer, awaits sentencing next month.

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The family of Mary Laird, who passed away in 2011, today claimed that the 26-year-old stole £150 from her account and raised fears that he may have targeted large numbers of elderly people who used the branch.

Her daughter and son-in-law, May and Bob Louden, condemned the Post Office, which investigated the alleged theft in 2010 but ruled that Amjid had done nothing wrong, for failing to stop the fraudster.

After being cleared, Amjid went on to steal £33,646 from Ms Mills between October 29, 2010 and May 16 last year.

The Loudens have also written a letter to the sheriff due to sentence Amjid to make him aware of the case.

Mrs Louden, 64, a retired receptionist who lives in Currie, said: “On September 2, 2010, my mother went to the post office to withdraw £50.

“She was served by Amjid, who put her card through but told her it wasn’t working. She had taken the card out and he snapped at her to put it back. He put it through again and gave my mother £50 in ten pound notes and a receipt.

“My husband always checked her bank statements for her and asked why she had taken out £50 at the post office then another £150. My mother said she hadn’t and told us what happened. Amjid had obviously given her £50 then used the card again to take the rest.”

The Loudens reported the matter to police who advised they contact Mrs Laird’s Santander bank branch in Morningside. Staff at the bank suspected fraud and told the couple they would alert the Post Office.

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Mr Louden, 66, a retired civil servant, said: “The Post Office told the bank that the transaction had been “correct”. I wrote to the Post Office customer complaints department and they informed us that they had contacted Colinton Mains Post Office and were satisfied the transaction was in order.

“I appealed the decision but the Post Office would not budge. I would’ve continued to pursue the matter but my mother-in-law fell ill at that time and sadly passed away early in 2011.

“When we saw the story in the Evening News about Amjid we were shocked. This happened to my mother-in-law just weeks before he started stealing from Ms Mills. If the Post Office had looked properly into the matter it might have been avoided.

“It’s just despicable to steal from vulnerable elderly people. And because of the similarities between the cases, it leaves you thinking there may be many other victims out there.”

A Post Office spokeswoman said that the allegations were currently being reviewed. The owner of Colinton Mains Post Office did not wish to comment.

Amjid’s solicitor, John Good, said: “He has no knowledge of any allegations and he denies any involvement.”

At Edinburgh Sheriff Court last week, Amjid, of Elliot Place in Craiglockhart, admitted fraudulently obtaining cash from Ms Mills on various occasions over a 19-month period.

Prosecutor Isobel Clark told the court that the OAP would be given £50 and a receipt, but that Amjid was actually withdrawing £650 from the account and pocketing £600.

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