Thieving postman traumatised by Disneyland rollercoaster spared jail

A postman who claimed he was traumatised into stealing parcels after going on the Disneyland roller coaster Thunder Mountain, has been spared jail. George Ramplin, 43, told Chelmsford Crown Court that the ride induced flashbacks to a fatal road accident he was involved in as a 10-year-old. Judge Laura Harris said was prepared to take an exceptional decision and not send him to prison.

Instead she imposed a six month community order with a six month curfew between 7 pm and 7am and ordered Ramplin, of Harwich, to pay £350 towards the Royal Mail's legal and investigation costs. Judge Harris said the post traumatic stress disorder provided an explanation "for this completely irrational" behaviour, adding: "This is a tragedy for you and your family."



The court had been told that Ramplin's ride on Thunder Mountain triggered a childhood memory of a fatal school minibus crash 30 years earlier and that it was this that led to him turning to stealing parcels. Ramplin survived the May 1978 accident near Harwich when he was just ten. However, the court was told that seven children and one teacher died and he spent weeks in hospital having to undergo several operations for serious head injuries.

But the court was told that memories of it flooded back during and after the Thunder Mountain ride during a family holiday last August and triggered post traumatic stress disorder in him. And as a result it was claimed that over a five week period leading up to last Christmas he stole parcels containing DVDs and computer games from Harwich delivery office.