A Peel couple have been convicted of stealing post and selling it on Facebook.

Joshua Maxwell Ffrench, of West View, admitted theft and was jailed for 28 days for stealing maternity clothes worth £47 while he worked as a courier.

His partner, Georgina Kathleen Moore, of the same address, admitted handling stolen goods by putting the items for sale on Facebook.

She wept as she was sentenced to 40 hours community service after Ffrench had been taken to custody.

We previously reported how a complaint was made by a woman who had ordered a number of items from Dorothy Perkins and New Look.

The items were due to delivered by courier Hermes where 24-year-old Ffrench worked but they never arrived.

The woman saw similar items listed for sale on Facebook and contacted Moore, who is 38, who admitted that her partner Ffrench was a courier but said that she was selling the items for a friend.

When interviewed by police, Moore denied that either of them had stolen the items.

She said they had arrived in the post though she could not recall when or who they came from, but said it could have been Ffrench’s father who sent them.

Ffrench also denied selling the parcels and said that they had been in their kitchen cupboard for an unknown period of time. He also said that it was possible his father had sent them. However, police contacted Ffrench’s father and he said that he had not sent any of the items.

The court heard that the couple had since accepted responsibility.

Defending Ffrench in court advocate Deborah Myerscough said: ’Mr Ffrench is still a relatively young man, only 24. He has a 12-year-old stepdaughter and one-year-old son, who at the time, was only a few months old. It is a great shame he and his partner are before the court. To have both parents before the court has grave connotations for the future of the family.

’Mr Ffrench is currently working, luckily he has been able to return to his employer. We believe his partner will not necessarily be so lucky.’

Defending Moore, advocate Rebecca Cubbon said: ’At the time Ms Moore was selling baby items as her young son had grown out of clothes. She came across the items in the cupboard and had reason to believe they were from legitimate sources. But she accepts she had suspicions and should have made further enquiries but didn’t. It was a stupid mistake. She accepts there has been a breach of trust. She has been with the same employer for 15 years but has now been suspended pending a review and has serious doubts if she will be able to go back to her position.’

After being sentenced to jail Ffrench’s advocate immediately requested bail pending an appeal but this was denied.