Royal Mail has apologised to a shocked Royal Marine who watched on security camera as a delivery driver 'ripped off' his letterbox in what the company claims was a fit of pique.
James Craig, 34, could not believe what he was seeing as he watched from work - on CCTV that was tuned into his smartphone - as his letterbox plate was ripped off after the delivery driver "lost his temper".
Footage shows how a man comes to Mr Craig's door while he was out, in a bid to deliver a £500 Dyson vacuum cleaner that he had bought.
The self-employed delivery driver, who was delivering the package on behalf of Royal Mail's Parcelforce Worldwide, is then seen taking away the box before returning to put an 'undelivered parcel' note through his door.
However, what happens next shocked and infuriated Mr Craig as the delivery driver is seen pulling up the letterbox plate hard on its hinges - pulling it off the door - and leaving it to drop on the ground before walking away.
Mr Craig said: "At first I was so happy that my parcel had finally arrived and then suddenly I see him pull up the letterbox with force and I'm saying to my colleague, 'look at this, what is he doing?'
"I couldn't believe what I'd just seen."
The self-employed delivery driver, who was delivering the package on behalf of Royal Mail's Parcelforce Worldwide, is then seen taking away the box before returning to put an 'undelivered parcel' note through his door.
However, what happens next shocked and infuriated Mr Craig as the delivery driver is seen pulling up the letterbox plate hard on its hinges - pulling it off the door - and leaving it to drop on the ground before walking away.
Mr Craig said: "At first I was so happy that my parcel had finally arrived and then suddenly I see him pull up the letterbox with force and I'm saying to my colleague, 'look at this, what is he doing?'
Mr Craig said: "I was really angry but then when I showed my colleague he laughed said I had nothing to worry about because I have all the evidence.
"But what I don't understand is, there are signs on the door to say that I have CCTV, they were staring him in the face and yet he still did it."
Mr Craig later returned home to find the missed delivery note and his letterbox plate lying on the ground.
He said he felt like the victim of a "deliberate and international act of crime".
As a serving Royal Marine, Mr Craig said he was "conscious of security" and so had the CCTV fitted in his front porch.
Mr Craig, a lone parent who looks after his four-year-old daughter while his wife lives and works abroad, told The Herald that he had confronted Royal Mail Parcelforce Worldwide about the incident which took place on Wednesday, January 18, at 9.27am.
He also sent visual evidence showing what he says is a dent in the side of the parcel which looked as though the box had either been kicked or thrown at some point before delivery, which added to his upset.
Mr Craig said that it was "really disrespectful" as it was clear the item was expensive from the outer boxing.
He added: "By sheer luck Dyson do wrap their parcels very well and so there was only a minor scratch to the hoover and everything was in working order."
The Royal Marine, who has served for 15 years, said that he had provided the company with the footage in a series of emails between him and managers at Parcelforce, which have been seen by The Herald.
Mr Craig said the company has now promised to cover the cost of the repair.
The 34-year-old father was told that a previous incident at another house had angered the delivery driver before he arrived at Mr Craig's property when he lost his temper.
According to Mr Craig, Royal Mail Parcelforce Worldwise has told him that he will need to take a day off from work to come up with three separate quotes for the repair to the letterbox.
Besides this, the company said that he needs to be there when the work takes place, meaning he would have to take more time off work.
Mr Craig said that to him, holiday was "like gold dust" as he has to use this to visit his wife abroad.
He thinks that the company's response to the damage is "just not acceptable".
He said: "They're saying basically that if you can be bothered to take two days off work, we will give you your money back, if not forget it."
Royal Mail has apologised for the damage caused and says an inquiry into the driver's conduct is under way.
A spokesman for Royal Mail Group said: "Every item we deliver is important to us and we will be investigating the matter internally.
"We apologise to Mr Craig and will reimburse him for the damage caused to his letterbox."
