Shame of Redhill's crooked postman

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Thousands of homeowners across Redhill were affected by 33-year-old Jozsef Szalo's thieving campaign from March to September last year.

Based at the Royal Mail's delivery office in Redstone Hill, the Hungarian national stole 703 postal packages and intentionally delayed sending on 4,558 more.

The scam collapsed when a landlord found two black bags full of mail in the loft of a Redhill home in Keats Avenue.

Royal Mail suspended Szalo in September 2008 in order to carry out an investigation.

Accompanied by a translator, the Mirror approached Szalo at his home but he did not want to add comment for fear of "bringing more shame to his family".

Appearing at Guildford Crown Court on Wednesday last week, Szalo pleaded guilty to all four charges against him, including opening two greetings packages.

Anthony Lenaghan, prosecuting, said Szalo had worked at Royal Mail for eight months, after arriving from Hungary two years ago.

Mr Lenaghan described 29 of the post items found as credit card packages.

Royal Mail confirmed it had sent apologetic letters to everyone who was affected last autumn and forwarded on any mail that was recovered.

Szalo's girlfriend, Andrea Virag, 29, who arrived here from Hungary two-and-a-half years ago, said she had no idea how she would afford to live on her part-time wage.

She said: "I can only work part-time because of my son. Things are tough enough as they are and we really don't want to go back to Hungary.

"The reason I came here was to give our son the best life possible. Our dream is to live here for the rest of our lives, get married and have a child of our own."

Judge Neil Stewart released Szalo on unconditional bail until his sentencing at Guildford Crown Court on March 11.