A delivery driver this week admitted stealing mobile phones worth more than £8,000.

Stephen Graham Whittaker was meant to deliver the phones to telecommunications firm Sure.

Prosecutor Rebecca Cubbon told the Deputy High Bailiff’s court that, on December 10, Whittaker was working for Manx Independent Carriers (MIC).

The 24-year-old delivered a parcel to Sure, which was meant to contain 49 iphones and, after he left, staff found that eight of the phones, valued at a total of £8,820, were missing.

The company reported the matter to MIC and Whittaker admitted that he had taken the phones.

He was sacked from his job and told to go to police headquarters, where he was subsequently arrested.

When interviewed by police Whittaker said that the parcel was damaged when he delivered it and that he later noticed that a number of the phones had fallen out.

He said that he originally intended to go back to Sure with the phones but when his shift ended he admitted that he had seen an opportunity to make some money as he was currently in debt.

Whittaker, who lives in Magherrosien, Port Erin, told police that he took the stolen phones and stashed them in a woodland area near the National Sports Centre but when he went back later they had gone.

The phones were never recovered and Ms Cubbon said that no evidence could be provided showing that the box was not damaged when it arrived at Sure.

Defence advocate Jerry Carter asked for a probation report to be prepared before sentencing.

Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes accepted jurisdiction and ordered that the report consider all options, including custody.

Bail was granted with conditions that Whittaker live at his home address, contact probation, and not leave the island without the court’s permission.