John Quainoo and Alexander Fyvie aren't the cleverest of criminals.

They got themselves embroiled in a credit card scam — in the place where they worked, and under the noses of their bosses.

It is hardly surprising that they came under suspicion and were rumbled.

It is the sort of scenario that would make them a laughing stock in the criminal fraternity.

Today they are paying the price for their stupidity — by starting prison sentences.

But before they were caught, they — and their unknown associates — managed to rifle up to £38,000 from their employers and customers.

We hope they will be ordered to pay back every penny — even if it takes them the rest of their lives.

Too often criminals are allowed to profit, serving their brief jail sentences, then coming out to enjoy the fruits of their crimes, which they have craftily hidden away.

Credit card theft is rife in this country, and those who take part in it should be shown no mercy.

The law-abiding community shouldn't have to suffer higher bills because of villains who think they can get something for nothing.

Quainoo and Fyvie can count themselves lucky that they didn't receive longer sentences.

One surprise is that they won't be joined in prison by dishonest postman Stephen Dossett.

He betrayed the trust of his Royal Mail employers and customers by stealing and delaying post — the latest in a series of staff convicted of similar crimes in recent months.

Magistrates were unduly lenient with him, giving him just 300 hours' community service.

Dossett had made preparations to go to jail, and was surprised as anyone at the sentence.

It must have seemed like a victory as he left court.

Neither case is likely to act as much of a deterrent to others who think they can swindle us.