A sub-postmaster has been told he will have to repay £9,000 stolen by a woman who ran one of his four Mid Wales post offices.

Kulwant Nijjer claimed he was being “treated like a criminal” by Post Office bosses.

Mr Nijjer runs Newtown post office together with four out-reach services which serve customers at Trefeglwys, Berriew, Abermule and Carno.

Elizabeth Porter, who ran the branch at Trefeglwys, near Llanidloes, admitted taking the cash when she appeared at court in April.

The 29-year-old received a 36-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and was ordered to carry out 200 hours unpaid work.

The court heard she had taken the money to prop up the other business she was running at The Red Lion pub in Trefeglwys.

But Mr Nijjer said he had been left to foot the bill for the theft after a judge at Mold Crown Court ruled on Friday that Porter did not have the cash to repay what she had taken.

Prosecuting barrister Mrs Caroline Harris, applying for compensation on Mr Nijjer’s behalf, said he was being pursued by the Post Office for the money.

Judge Dafydd Hughes ruled Porter’s benefit was £9,182, stolen between January and April last year.

But she told the court she had no cash and a nominal £5 confiscation order was made. She may have to pay more if she comes into future funds.

The judge said that regrettably he could not make an order for compensation although he had “every possible sympathy” for the position Mr Nijjer found himself in.

After the hearing, Mr Nijjer said the decision was against “all natural justice”.

He said he could be made bankrupt and have to give up providing services if the Post Office insisted on chasing him for the debt.

“They are pursuing me and saying that I am responsible,” Mr Nijjer said, speaking outside court.

“The Post Office sent me a letter saying that I was the officer in charge. That is all they care about.

“They said I owed more than £9,000 and simply wanted to know how I was going to pay it.

“I am being treated like a criminal when I have done nothing wrong.”

Nobody from the Post Office was available to comment today.

By Andy Morris