Richard Harmer had 500 unopened packages in his mother's home and hundreds in dustbin, while Christopher Winnard stole thousands in cash in gift voucher
Christopher Winnard and Richard Harmer
Two former postmen have both been handed suspended sentences after police found undelivered mail at their homes.
Richard Harmer, 27, of Laburnum Road, Gorton, was discovered to have more than 500 unopened packages in his mother’s home and more than 300 ruined packages in the dustbin.
In court his solicitor Ms Rolls, said the thefts, which took place between February and August 2014, had not been because he was attempting to steal the contents.
She said the pressure of home life - his former partner is ill and he has a young daughter - and being asked to take on extra rounds at work meant he was under tremendous pressure.
He claimed he started taking the packages home with plans to deliver them at a later date, but he never found the time and soon things had spiralled out of control.
Ms Rolls said: “When the police first found the packages my client said, and he has since said the same thing to me, it was a relief.”
Harmer had pleaded guilty to one offence of delaying 592 packages of being delivered and of stealing 309 other packages - the ones discovered open in his dustbin.
He was given an 18-week suspended sentence, 150 hours of unpaid work and must pay a total of £400 in costs and victim surcharge.
In an unrelated incident, a second postman, Christopher Winnard, was also charged with stealing a total of 69 packages from the Royal Mail, containing almost £2,000 in money and gift vouchers between November 6, 2014 and November 17, 2014 and between December 5, 2014 and December 12, 2014.
Winnard, 60, of Fir Street, Salford, was caught out after management suspected at least one person was stealing.
They left two packages where they knew Winnard would find them. Once they were taken they found he had the packages, plus another 22 on his person and among his belongings.
After searching his home they also found another 45 packages which he had stolen in November.
After pleading guilty at an earlier hearing Winnard was given an 18-week suspended sentence plus 150 hours unpaid work and pay a £420 contribution to the court costs and an £80 victim surcharge.
Both men were sentenced at Manchester Magistrates Court.