A postman stole debit cards and pin numbers from two bank customers and used the details to withdraw more than £3,000 in cash.

Arulampalam Balenthiran, 47, who lives in Red Lion Road, Tolworth, pleaded guilty to 11 counts of theft when he appeared on Monday at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court.

He also admitted taking 599 items of post between July 8 and August 17 this year.

He stole £300 a time from two unwitting Royal Mail customers in March, racking up a total of £3,300 from their accounts.

Balenthiran was granted unconditional bail and will be sentenced at Kingston Crown Court on a later date.

Royal Mail spokeswoman, Sally Hopkins, said: "It is a criminal offence to tamper with or delay the delivery of mail and anyone caught doing so will face serious disciplinary measures and Royal Mail will always seek to prosecute the tiny minority of people who abuse their position of trust."