Adam Roberts, 22, admitted three counts of handling stolen goods and one of theft at Chelmsford Crown Court.

The Swissport worker, of Silks Way, Braintree, admitting stealing cigarettes between May and December from items at Stansted Airport.

Roberts also admitted receiving a mobile phone, iPod and camera - all found in a police search of his home.

'Endemic' behaviour

Matthew Gowen, mitigating, told the court, Roberts had "undoubtedly got in with the wrong people" and "lacked the maturity to do something about it".

"The behaviour Mr Roberts has admitted seems to be, on the face of it, pretty endemic at Stansted, certainly with certain people who work as baggage handlers," said Mr Gowen.

"We were told up to 30 people had been arrested as a result [of the search warrants]."

Jailing Roberts, Recorder Gerard Pounder said: "In this day and age, with all the restrictions on what people can take in cabins, it makes it more important that society in general can trust the people who handle their luggage.