A FORMER Bristol City footballer abused his position as a postman by tipping off burglars as to when people on his round were away on holiday.

Andy Llewellyn, who was jailed for three years for his role in the burglaries, was a City first-team player from 1982 to 1994.

His betrayal led to £100,000 worth of items – many of sentimental value – being stolen from his customers, several of whom were elderly and vulnerable.

Bristol Crown Court heard yesterday that after his family was threatened over a debt, he gave out addresses of people who signed up for the Royal Mail's Keep Safe scheme, which stores the mail of people who are away so it doesn't mount up on doorsteps and alert intruders.

As a result 18 homes, many of which were occupied by elderly folk, were burgled. The court was told that some of the victims had accumulated the items that were stolen over a lifetime.

Former full-back Llewellyn, 45, of Bedford Road, Weston- super-Mare, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary between April and July last year.

Edward Burgess, prosecuting, said Llewellyn's partner in crime was Adam Holmes who, with others unknown, burgled addresses which Llewellyn had supplied. He was jailed for six years for his part.

Mr Burgess said: "The defendant was employed as a postman. He had access to information as to which householders had subscribed to the Keep Safe scheme.

"That information was provided on a frequent basis, enabling Holmes and others to commit burglaries. They were sophisticated and premises were targeted."

Judge Julian Lambert told Llewellyn: "It was a wicked conspiracy to burgle, which was cynical and professional without regard to human decency. You knew that area and you knew it was populated by a good number of old folk.

"The sadness of the case is that you were a decent and honourable man, a good father and a great sportsman. I struggle to understand why you took leave of your senses."

The judge commended the police team which investigated the case.

The judge said he had read letters from victims and was aware it was "absolutely dreadful" to lose things they had treasured all their lives.

Mr Burgess said Llewellyn had no previous offences but Holmes had multiple convictions for theft.

Mark Worsley, defending, said his client pleaded guilty promptly and assisted the police investigation, resulting in abuse on social networking site Facebook.

The judge said anyone identified for posting the abuse should be arrested and dealt with to the full extent of the law.

Mr Worsley said his client accepted giving Holmes just 11 addresses.

He said the background was that, three years before, Holmes loaned him £300 but had demanded it back with interest.

When Llewellyn asked for time he received a chilling telephone call in which the caller said he knew the route home of Llewellyn's ten-year-old son.

Mr Worsley said: "As a result of that he panicked. He didn't go to the police. He co-operated with those who understood where his family were and what they were doing. He gave two addresses to Mr Holmes but, once in the mill, there were further demands."

The court heard phone records showed Holmes bombarded Llewellyn with 106 calls, asking him to furnish more addresses.

Mr Worsley said his client gave out addresses in the Keep Safe scheme without knowing the ages of householders or the contents of their homes.

He said Llewellyn remained in football coaching after ending with City, and while his younger son was at Bristol City Academy his older lad was trialling for Stoke City.

The court heard divorced Llewellyn was on good terms with his ex-wife, who provided a reference for him, and saw his lads every day.

He also raised money for Guide Dogs for the Blind, Mr Worsley said, and had the promise of future employment.

In November 2008 the Evening Post reported how Llewellyn was ordered by the county court to repay a £2,500 loan he borrowed from Clevedon United secretary Pat O'Brien when he was first team manager in 2006.

Royal Mail spokesman Mike Norman said: "Royal Mail has a zero tolerance approach to any dishonesty and that stance is shared by the overwhelming majority of postmen and women, who are honest and hardworking and who do all they can to protect the mail and deliver it safely.

"Royal Mail will always seek to prosecute the tiny minority of people who abuse their position of trust."