Postman, 31, dumped thousands of letters

A postman who dumped thousands of letters near Dudley Zoo and kept a haul of more than 4,000 mail items at his home has avoided an immediate term in prison.

David Spiers was instead handed a six-month sentence, suspended for two years, at Walsall Magistrates' Court yesterday.

The 31-year-old was employed by Royal Mail for more than two years at the delivery office in Walsall.

But instead of carrying out his rounds properly, he dumped 6,385 letters and catalogues near the zoo and kept another 4,654 items at his home.

An investigation was launched after a member of the public reported seeing mail dumped off Tipton Road, some of which dated back to February 2010.

An investigator found that Spiers was responsible for delivering them.

Mr John Dove, prosecuting on behalf of Royal Mail, said when Spiers was approached on February 1 this year he admitted having more undelivered mail at his home, and was suspended.

He said Spiers told the investigator he had too much mail to deliver and would take it home at the end of his shift, rather than tell his boss, because he thought he would get into trouble.

In mitigation, Mr Julian Derry said there had only been 101 items of addressed mail, with the rest being junk mail.

He said: "He realises it was a stupid thing to do. He should have told his supervisor.

"He panicked and is extremely sorry."

Spiers, of Park Moor Gardens, in Dudley, admitted two counts of intentionally delaying the delivery of postal packets between February 27, 2010 and February 1, 2011, and from May 15, 2010 to December 7, 2010.

He was also ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and to pay £2,360 costs.