Postman jailed after hoarding letters and stealing packages

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Postman jailed after hoarding letters and stealing from packages

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A postman who hoarded more than a 1,200 undelivered letters and stole items from several packages has been jailed for 12 months.

Royal Mail investigators found that Mark Nevin (37) had helped himself to two watches, a £50 cash birthday gift and chargers for a mobile phone and an iPod.

Nevin, who was based at Hinckley delivery office for 10 years, pleaded guilty to delaying the transmission of mail and theft, between August and October last year.

James Thomas, prosecuting, said an inquiry was launched when a customer complained about a postal packet not being delivered on Nevin’s round, on October 26.

He had reported unfit to work due to illness that day and staff members visited his flat in Middlefield Lane, Hinckley.

He was not at home, but in the hallway they saw his Royal Mail bicycle with undelivered mail in the rear panniers.

When he returned to work three days later he was suspended and his home was searched on October 31.

Mr Thomas said: “There were 1,208 unopened mail items dating back to August 3 and 103 items of opened mail, which included banking documents and new bank cards.

“There was no evidence of any misuse of the cards or financial documents.”

Mr Thomas said: “There’s a high level of trust placed in postal workers and the integrity of the system and Royal Mail depends on that trust.”

Sentencing, Judge Simon Hammond said: “It was betraying the trust of his employers and fellow postal workers.

“Letters that go astray can cause considerable inconvenience and distress.

“It must be clear if postal workers steal from the Royal Mail they must receive a custodial sentence.”

The items stolen amounted to in excess of £100, Leicester Crown Court was told.

Judge Hammond said: “The gravity of this isn’t the value, it’s the damage to the integrity of the Royal Mail.

“This was a high level of breach of trust.”

Lynsey Knott, mitigating, said: “He bitterly regrets it and he’s ashamed he finds himself in court.

“He’s also relieved it was brought to the attention of his employer.

“For a number of years he’s been addicted to heroin which he’s been trying to combat and has sought help.

“He’s trying to reduce his drug use; it’s the ultimate reason why this all happened.

“He found his health was deteriorating, leaving him lethargic and lacking energy.

“He had hepatitis C and underwent seven months of treatment during 2013.

“The offending began, due to his symptoms, when he was unable to complete the deliveries.

“He took the mail home with the intention of delivering it the following day.

“It added to his existing work and the cycle continued until he found himself with the mail backing up and he was unable to cope.

“The majority of letters were unopened.

“Items were taken from some letters and others were already damaged and he saw the contents.

“The temptation was there in front of him and he was in financial difficulty.”