A postman’s crippling gambling addiction spiralled into purchases of gold jewellery, phones and even online gaming gift cards with stolen bank cards.

Mauro Paul Coluzzi’s family members broke down in court on Thursday as he was jailed until December 2027 for leading two criminal syndicates funded with pilfered plastic.

The disgraced postie, 57, stole dozens of cards out of secure mail on his beat in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

Over 15 months, Coluzzi and two co-conspirators defrauded customers and their banks of more than $130,000.

Coluzzi personally obtained nearly $30,000 in cash and goods from the stolen cards, including two 24-carat gold bracelets bought a mere 12 hours before his arrest.

Judge Jillian Kiely said Coluzzi had reduced community confidence in the reliability of the postal service and prison time was essential.

“[Cards] were stolen from the post, which was a significant breach of trust … to safely deliver these items to customers,” she said in Sydney’s Sutherland Local Court on Thursday.

Kiely said Coluzzi, who had been an unblemished postal worker since 2007, began in early 2024 to look for new ways to fund a debilitating gambling addiction.

“F—, I hope they all work, I need money bro,” he told one of his co-offenders.

“I’m f—ed bro, I gotta pay my credit card.”

The agreed facts of the case state that, by the end of the scheme, Coluzzi was worried about changes to Australia Post procedures that would stop him from accessing new cards.

“It’s only gonna be parcels bro, and I can’t f—ing touch parcels,” he said to an unnamed person.

A spokeswoman said Australia Post had zero tolerance for illegal activity in its network.

“We worked very closely with NSW Police throughout their investigation and continually review systems and processes to strengthen the security of our operations,” she said.

Kiely said Coluzzi was estimated to have gambled millions of dollars throughout his life and the excessive losses put repeated strain on his marriage.

For 15 months, he and his cronies systematically stole dozens of cards from secure mail and obtained more than $100,000 in cash and fraudulent purchases.

The three men bought perfume, a night out in Darling Harbour, scented candles and more than a dozen phones and tablets with the stolen cards. Their haul also included thousands of cigarettes, phone recharge cards, groceries and Roblox gift cards.

Coluzzi’s barrister Troy Edwards SC argued a community sentence would be an appropriate punishment for the 57-year-old.

But Kiely said the offending was too serious for any sentence but jail.

As Coluzzi was led from the court, a member of his family collapsed and had to be assisted away.

Coluzzi will be eligible for parole in December 2027.

National Gambling Helpline 1800 858 858

-AAP