A POST Office worker in Bolton stole thousands of pounds from elderly and vulnerable people, a court heard.

Mustanser Hussain stole £5,660 from customers paying by chip and pin cards at Johnson Fold Post Office in Moss Bank Way, Bolton magistrates were told.

After they entered their pin numbers, Hussain would tell them that the transaction failed and put the it through again for his own benefit, the court heard.

Hussain, aged 23, of Leverhulme Avenue, Great Lever, yesterday admitted 10 counts of theft.

He stole the money from late 2004 to February, 2006, and targeted 16 people, the court was told.

A further 38 similar offences will be taken into account when he is sentenced at Bolton Crown Court on January 4.

Karen Tonge, prosecuting, said: "It was not vast amounts of money in each transaction, but the people were elderly and vulnerable, so it would have been a considerable amount to them."

After the hearing, Detective Constable Miles James, of Bolton CID, said: "These crimes targeted elderly and vulnerable people for whom money was often in short supply.

"By creating confusion and using his knowledge of a payment system which would have been quite alien to his elderly victims, the offender stole quite a large sum of money, albeit over a reasonably long period of time.

"I hope that the outcome of the investigation will offer some comfort to the victims."

Hussain's sister, Fozia Hussain, aged 20, also of Leverhulme Avenue, also appeared in court yesterday charged with two counts of theft from customers at the Post Office.

She did not enter a plea and her case was adjourned until December 21.