ALVECHURCH is set to lose its post office after a sub postmaster was jailed for stealing money from an elderly customer.

Saeed Farajzadeh-Ahari was given a six month sentence and has been forced to quit the job he has had for nearly 20 years.

He will also have to sell his house at the post office on Bear Hill in the village.

A petition from the villagers backing Ahari was sent to Worcester Crown Court before a sentencing hearing but the post office is now likely to close because nobody can be found to take the job over.

The 58-year-old was found guilty by a jury of stealing £1,200 between April 16, 2014 and July 23, 2014 from Ewart Williams, who has since died.

He was cleared of a similar charge.

Prosecutor Amrisha Parathalingham said Mr Williams had been a regular customer at the post office and Ahari had known him for 10 years.

He was due to go into hospital and gave Ahari his bank card and PIN number to look after his affairs but when his family checked later, they found the card had been used on nine occasions and the money had been put into Ahari's bank account.

Jason Aris, defending, said Ahari had worked in the village for 19 years and was highly regarded in the community but he had now lost his good character and his reputation.

"People have been very surprised that he finds himself before this court," Mr Aris said.

"The building that he owns will have to be sold and the post office will close because no-one else can be found to run it."

He said Ahari, married for 23 years and with one son, had earned a good wage of almost £30,000 a year and had no financial problems.

Recorder Anthony Lowe said he had found it a "baffling" case.

"Your position as a sub-postmaster placed you in a position of considerable trust and respect and that is exemplified by the petition sent to the court on your behalf," he told Ahari.

"Witnesses spoke highly of you and there is no doubt you served your community well."

But, he said, Mr Williams had given him the card and had not expected him to help himself to the money hoping he would not be found out.

"I have no understanding of why you took the money but absent OF any other explanation, I am driven to conclude that it was greed, pure and simple," Recorder Lowe said.

The value might not have been great but it was a breach of a high position of trust, he said.

Ahari has already repaid £300 and he was ordered to pay back the remaining £900 to the estate of Mr Williams plus £2,800 in court costs.