Postman's mail hoard uncovered

A postman hoarded thousands of letters and advertising leaflets for up to a year before bosses realised they were not being delivered.

Two bags full of mail including credit cards, birthday cards and even airline tickets were left at an official Royal Mail drop-off point in Blewitt Street, Dudley, for up to two months before being spotted by other postal workers, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told yesterday.

Two days later officials raided the home of 30-year-old Lee Richardson, the postman who should have delivered the letters, and found a load more lying in a shed and bin bag.

Prosecutor John Dove said the total haul of undelivered mail involved almost 1,200 letters and more than 6,000 leaflets.

Some of the letters dumped at the postman's home had been opened by his seven-year-old son, although nothing had been taken, Mr Dove said.

Miss Belinda Arras, defending, said Richardson had stopped delivering all the mail on his round from December 2008 when his father fell ill and died.

His personal problems increased with his wife and one of his children also becoming unwell, she said, adding: "He was under a considerable amount of pressure.

"He was struggling at home and could not cope. Initially he intended to start his round early to ensure that he could deliver letters left from the previous day first, but eventually he just stored them in his shed.

"He buried his head in the sand and gradually the situation got worse."

Richardson, from Mullett Street, Pensnett, admitted two offences of wilfully delaying the mail but had no intention of stealing it, the court heard.

He has been sacked and is now living on benefits.

Judge Robin Onions gave him a one-year sentence, suspended under supervision for two years, with 250 hours of unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay £116 compensation and £250 towards the costs of the prosecution.

The Judge told him: "You made the problems of your family the problems of all the customers of the Post Office, causing an enormous amount of upset and inconvenience."