Glossop postman ripped up letters

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.matlockmercury.co.uk/news/lo ... -1-6743877" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A Glossop postman has received a suspended sentence, after he had a breakdown and destroyed hundreds of items of post.

Simon Richardson was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, at High Peak Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

An investigation was launched after a member of the public witnessed him try to tear up letters and throw them in a wheelie bin on Pikes Lane, Glossop, on April 2.

Police discovered 187 postal packets were damaged in the incident.

A further 194 items of post were found when police searched the 40-year-old’s home on Pikes Lane on April 8, including 86 in a wheelie bin and 89 in a ripped up condition.

Officers also recovered four mail bags, worth £100.

Richardson admitted two charges of criminal damage, one charge of theft and one count of intentionally delaying 34 packets, by breaching his duty at an earlier hearing on July 15.

Karen Rolls, defending, said: “He has no previous convictions, he’s extremely remorseful and deeply ashamed. He’s always worked hard for a living.

“It’s not a financially motivated offence, this was a man having a breakdown. There were a number of colleagues off sick and rounds had been increased.”

She added: “It was an unsophisticated offence. The evidence was there, he hadn’t gone off to the local tip. He acted in a haze and a blur.”

She told magistrates he was under a “great deal of pressure” and was the sole carer for three teenage daughters.

Ms Rolls added that her client had recently been diagnosed with depression and his mother’s cancer treatment had “tipped him over the edge”.

The court heard the defendant was “very distressed” about the incident and described it as “an out of body experience”.

Addressing Richardson, chairman of the bench Eric Hilton said: “We view this as a high breach of trust, of the Royal Mail and its customers.

“You’ve already said it was stupid. You acted under pressure, but it wasn’t a good thing to do.”

Mr Hilton explained the bench had suspended his sentence, due to his good character, his remorse and his personal circumstances.

Richardson was ordered to comply with a community order consisting of a 12-month supervision and a 12-week curfew.

He was also ordered to pay an £80 victim surcharge, compensation of £1,300 costs.

[Lounge Lizard]

As "There were a number of colleagues off sick and rounds had been increased”, he was under a “great deal of pressure”, was the sole carer for three teenage daughters, he "had recently been diagnosed with depression and his mother’s cancer treatment had “tipped him over the edge” I just might believe, in the probably absence of any support from management, the mention of "his good character".
No excuse for what he did, but maybe, on this occasion, a suspended sentence was appropriate.

[Judgee]

As "There were a number of colleagues off sick and rounds had been increased”, he was under a “great deal of pressure”, was the sole carer for three teenage daughters, he "had recently been diagnosed with depression and his mother’s cancer treatment had “tipped him over the edge” I just might believe, in the probably absence of any support from management, the mention of "his good character".
No excuse for what he did, but maybe, on this occasion, a suspended sentence was appropriate.

Yeah, perhaps I am going soft in my old age but I do feel a little sympathetic towards him. Many as time I have felt like throwing all my mail in a skip and going down the pub. Haven't done it yet but it could still happen.

[noggin1969]

TBH there is a great deal of difference between the thieving or lazy postie and someone who is genuinely having a mental break down. Unfortunately he'll still be out of work with a criminal conviction which won't help matters. But least he didn't do anything more extreme or turn up at the office with a 1000 yrd stare and a holdall

[Lounge Lizard]

As "There were a number of colleagues off sick and rounds had been increased”, he was under a “great deal of pressure”, was the sole carer for three teenage daughters, he "had recently been diagnosed with depression and his mother’s cancer treatment had “tipped him over the edge” I just might believe, in the probably absence of any support from management, the mention of "his good character".
No excuse for what he did, but maybe, on this occasion, a suspended sentence was appropriate.

Yeah, perhaps I am going soft in my old age but I do feel a little sympathetic towards him. Many as time I have felt like throwing all my mail in a skip and going down the pub. Haven't done it yet but it could still happen.

I have never felt like throwing all my mail in a skip and going down the pub. But in this weather ?

[baldrick]

http://www.matlockmercury.co.uk/news/lo ... -1-6743877
Officers also recovered four mail bags, worth £100.
I take it those were delivery pouches, do they really cost £25 each?

this was a man having a breakdown. There were a number of colleagues off sick and rounds had been increased.”
I wonder how many more posties already under stress will be tipped over the edge by lapsing.

[westham000]

Got no sympathy for him. We all have problems in life, I should know I've had my fair share. But not once did I ever think of dumping or destroying mail. The business offers various support through different channels. Could have taken unpaid leave, reduced hours, inside duties for a short period, gone sick for a few weeks, paid a colleague to do half his round 2 or 3 times a week etc. should have seen the welfare officer and explained the situation . How long does it take to deliver a couple of hundred letters? Now he has lost his job and has a police record.

[terry2972]

I just hope you never suffer from mental health issues

[Judgee]

Got no sympathy for him. We all have problems in life, I should know I've had my fair share. But not once did I ever think of dumping or destroying mail. The business offers various support through different channels. Could have taken unpaid leave, reduced hours, inside duties for a short period, gone sick for a few weeks, paid a colleague to do half his round 2 or 3 times a week etc. should have seen the welfare officer and explained the situation . How long does it take to deliver a couple of hundred letters? Now he has lost his job and has a police record.

That's the thoughts of someone thinking rationally. This guy wasn't, that's the point! You seek help/support if you recognise something's wrong and in many cases like this you don't think logically at all!


As has been mentioned, let's hope you never suffer from mental health issues!

[westham000]

I do suffer from mental health issues! I'm on medication. How many posties also suffer from depression and mental health issues and are single parents or have a partner or parent with a serious illness! I should imagine hundreds within the business . They all don't go round dumping mail, if they did we would be in a hell of a state!

[TrueBlueTerrier]

I do suffer from mental health issues! I'm on medication.

Which if true, makes the fact you have no sympathy for him even more difficult to understand.

You can still have sympathy for someone, even if you disagree with his actions.

[Lounge Lizard]

I do suffer from mental health issues! I'm on medication.

Which if true, makes the fact you have no sympathy for him even more difficult to understand.

You can still have sympathy for someone, even if you disagree with his actions.

TBT,
But there's 'mental health issues' and 'mental health issues' and maybe it's not for you or me to guess what 'issues' westham000 has !