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A guilt-ridden thief has returned a ‘postbox to heaven’ with a lengthy apology note, saying ‘I’m so sorry, I’m a scumbag’.

Outrage was sparked when the box, which was filled with letters that grieving people wrote to dead loved ones, was taken from Hughes Funeral Directors in Cannock, Staffordshire.

CCTV shows a hooded man pulling up in a silver van on Sunday morning and snatching the item, which was designed to support families through their grief.

Kim Hughes, 38, owner of the funeral home, said her ‘heart sank’ when she realised it was gone, adding: ‘All he’d probably get opening that was a picture some children drew for their grandad.’

Now, the culprit has given the box to its rightful owners – writing a remorseful message saying he is ‘sorry with all his heart’ and enclosing £20 for paint damage.

The note read: ‘I’m putting £20 in for you to repaint it I’m so so sorry.

‘I would just like to say I’m so so sorry for taking the post box I didn’t read any letter or anything saying wot [sic] it was.

‘That does not make it right in any way. I’m a scum bag for even taking it to start with. It was late when I saw it on Facebook and I’m a coward, a low-life (p***k).

‘Please forgive me for this and please believe me when I say I didn’t know what it was.

‘I have put it where you will have it brought back to you because I am a fool who is so ashamed for what I have done. I am really sorry honestly with all my heart I’m so so sorry.’

Mum-of-two Kim says they are ‘just glad to have it back now so families can carry on finding comfort from it’.

Despite the apology and return, police have confirmed officers are still investigating the theft.

The postbox to heaven box is normally kept inside the office of the funeral directors.

But it was put outside to give families the chance to send letters even when the office was closed in the run-up to Mother’s Day.

Speaking before it was returned, Kim said: ‘Your heart sinks, we were absolutely mortified.

‘All he’d probably get opening that was a picture some children drew for their grandad. It’s gutting, because we were just trying to do something nice.

‘It’s normally in our office but with Mother’s Day coming up we decided to put it outside.

‘We purchased it out of our own money and it was meant to be a continued support for families.

‘One woman said it was a really good idea as she found her daughter’s letters to her grandad under her bed now she had somewhere to send them.

‘If he could just do the right thing now, bring it back and admit he took it, we can just move on.’

A Staffordshire Police spokesperson said: ‘On Sunday (12 March) we received a report concerning the theft of a post box from Broad Street in Cannock.

‘Any witnesses, or anyone with any information, can contact us via 101 or online, quoting incident number 631 of 12 March.’

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