Postal worker kept 1,200 items of Christmas mail in his flat

Jordan Priest, 24, of Baremar Close, Sedgley, was discovered keeping the packets at his home, Dudley Magistrates Court heard.

Priest pleaded guilty to two charges of being engaged in the business of a postal operator when he delayed or opened a post packet.

The first charge related to 1,225 parcels between December 15 and January 11 this year.

The second was for 64 packets 'on or about' January 26.

At yesterday's hearing, Mr Sam Coe, prosecuting, said: "Mr Priest works in postal operation and does not deliver post. It started in January of this year when a phone call said post had been recovered from a block of flats and it was Mr Priest's address and postal area."

He has no previous convictions.

Mr Andrew Brocklehurst, defending, said: "He has fully cooperated with Royal Mail and has worked for them for some months.

"This incident comes after he was in a very stressful situation and his partner's grandmother died of cancer on Boxing Day.

"He understands that it was a huge amount of mail over the Christmas period that caused a lot of distress to people."

Priest was granted unconditional bail to appear before Wolverhampton Magistrates Court on July 4.

Royal Mail brought the prosecution against Priest.

A spokesman said he no longer worked for the company.

He added: "Royal Mail has a zero tolerance approach to any dishonesty and the safety and security of mail is of the utmost importance to this business.

"It is a criminal offence to tamper with or delay the delivery of mail and anyone caught doing so will face serious disciplinary measures.

"Royal Mail will always seek to prosecute the tiny minority of people who abuse their position of trust. "