By Jane O'Neill
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A devoted dad vowed to see the Royal Mail in court after a birthday present went astray.
Derick Innes, of Downhill, Sunderland, posted the package to his six-year-old daughter, who lives in Thailand.
The 59-year-old thought 14 days would be enough time for little Mook's gift to arrive – but it did not show up for more than two months.
By then Derick had already sent money to wife Lalita so she could replace the presents.
Derick, a fitter, took out a private legal case against the Royal Mail, which was heard at Sunderland County Court.
He told District Judge Lascelles how the A4-sized package was sent from the UK to New Zealand, which Post Office workers told him was a mistake.
But after hearing evidence from David Wilkinson, a barrister representing the Royal Mail, the District Judge threw the case out.
Mr Wilkinson said there was no contract between the Royal Mail and its customers promising International Delivery within a certain time.
Summing up, District Judge Lascelles said: "If it had been a delivery item within the UK, there would have been a provision for compensation, or if it had been lost or damaged for overseas items, but not for delay, as obviously when it leaves the UK it is outside the control of the Royal Mail."
Derick sent the parcel International Signed For, which provides a tracking service until post leaves the UK.
He says this was recommended to him by experienced Post Office staff, and he did not know there was no compensation for delayed post.
"I can understand if the parcel had gone to Bangkok, then got delayed – the Royal Mail would have fulfilled their contract," he said.
"But my argument is they sent it to New Zealand by mistake.
"I'm never going to use the Royal Mail again for international items. I just want to make people aware what could happen if they are sending things to places like Thailand.
I wonder how much that court case cost him
