Postman failed to deliver close to 9,000 items

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.rochdaleobserver.co.uk/news/ ... 9000_items" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A postman failed to deliver almost 9,000 letters and packages bound for Royton due to self proclaimed 'stupidity and laziness'.

Christopher John Fearnley, of Clayton Street, Failsworth, pleaded guilty to delaying the delivery of 8,967 items of addressed post - including many Christmas cards and gifts - and 300 pieces of junk mail over a six week period over.

Oldham Magistrates' Court heard that the 21-year-old put his actions down the extremely long hours and a heavy workload which 'got on top of him'.

Andrew Cole, defending, said: “He had been working with Royal Mail for only five or six weeks prior to the offence and he was struggling with it.

“It was a harder job than he initially anticipated, especially over the busy Christmas period. His shift would finish at 2.50pm each day but on some nights he would find himself not finishing deliveries until 5.30pm to 6pm with no end in sight.

“Immaturely he went down the road of putting bags in his car and not delivering and it just spiralled from there.”

The court heard that Fearnley would go home after completing just a third of his shift but did not take the mail home on a daily basis.

The missing post was traced after complaints in failed deliveries forced the Royal Mail investigation team to put Fearnley under surveillance and use special tracking devices in four specially prepared packages.

Undelivered mail was found in his car and the home he shared with his now ex-girlfriend on Laburnum Avenue.

The items, dated between December 8, 2009 and January 6, 2010, were for addresses in Royton and were not damaged or opened by Fearnley.

All the missing post has since been recovered and will now be delivered to residents.

Fearnley, who is now unemployed and living with his parents, was sentenced to a 12-month community order and 120 hours of unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay £538.20 to cover the costs of redelivery of the mail and £85 in legal costs.

[not me]

im in no way making excuses but this

“It was a harder job than he initially anticipated, especially over the busy Christmas period. His shift would finish at 2.50pm each day but on some nights he would find himself not finishing deliveries until 5.30pm to 6pm with no end in sight.

just shouldnt be happening,6pm at night is not a time new staff should be finishing and its a management failing

[AnnexeB]

120 hours of unpaid work.

Im suprised Royal Mail dont re-employ him.

[maisymoo04]

mangment again he must of went in every mornin nothin throwin in struggled to get up and left the office with a silly map and heavy bags well what can we say thanks for the training royal mail ok we dont no the full story but come on folks make ye own judgement we have seen it all before

[Lounge Lizard]

"The items were for addresses in Royton and were not damaged or opened by Fearnley." - yes, not in the same league as those who steal tenners from birthday cards.

[axeman]

Stinks of managers bullying and pressure it really is a big failure on royal fail part but it's what you expect from the overbearing bullies the ''i'll do it sir'' mangement of royal fail ...feel kind of sorry for new guys as they are seeing the worst form of harrasment no doubt in industry and sanctioned by brydon and his loonies

[maisymoo04]

true when i started i sat behind a desk in the mail centre for a week training showed me how to throw in deliver mail sort etc ok its not rocket science but royal mail should carry on with that showin the new starters what to do so they will enjoy working for the company well i dont i even had me name on me desk and what office i was in

[ashadd]

120 hours of unpaid work.

Im suprised Royal Mail dont re-employ him.

[Judgee]

Big management failure here. I remember thinking it was tough going when I started nearly ten years ago. But I was given full training and time to get used to the workload. Now new people coming in barely get any training at all and usually very little time to get used to things. On top of that the amount you are expected to do these days is far greater than when I began. Management are not very understanding, if they were more approachable maybe new starters could tell them they were struggling. I can imagine anyone going to a manager because they can't cope would get the standard reply now "well so and so can do it there must be something wrong with you"