by uknip247
John McKinney, 42, a former postman from Newquay, has been sentenced to 38 months in prison after pleading guilty to a series of serious offences, including mail theft, identity fraud, and perverting the course of justice. McKinney appeared at Truro Crown Court, where Judge Robert Linford handed down the sentence for crimes spanning several months between 2023 and 2024.
While working as a postman in Truro, McKinney intercepted mail, including chequebooks, a driving license, and a credit card, belonging to three elderly victims. Using the stolen cheques, he fraudulently deposited over £9,000 into accounts he had opened under stolen identities. He also obtained fake driver’s licenses and passports, which he used to open multiple bank accounts and secure a car loan.
One of McKinney’s most elaborate crimes involved the theft of a Rolex watch. In January 2024, he pawned the watch for £2,500 using a stolen credit card. Later, McKinney returned to the pawn shop and used a sleight-of-hand tactic to steal the watch back while distracting staff, leaving with both the watch and the money. When questioned, he attempted to blame the shop itself for the theft.
Detective Constable Jane Bickley, who investigated the case, described McKinney’s offences as “highly sophisticated” and emphasized that the victims were left to deal with the consequences of his actions. McKinney’s arrest followed a speeding offence linked to his fraudulent activities, prompting further investigations that uncovered the full extent of his crimes.
The investigation involved multiple agencies, including HM Passport Agency, HMRC, the DVLA, and various banks. Authorities are now encouraging anyone affected by similar crimes to reach out to Victim Support for assistance.
