Gambling Birmingham postman stole thousands of wifes letters

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Gambling Birmingham postman stole thousands of wife's letters

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A BIRMINGHAM postman with a gambling debt stole letters from his estranged wife in a bid to save their failing marriage.

Darren Spiers wanted to hide the fact he was struggling to keep up payments on a second mortgage.

But his wife tipped off police when she discovered a “huge” amount of undelivered post at his former home, some dating back more than three years, city magistrates were told.

Spiers, 32, of Highfield Lane, Woodfield Valley, admitted two charges of delaying the post and one of theft. Sentencing was adjourned until June 2 to allow reports to be prepared.

John Dove, prosecuting, said Spiers, who had been employed at the Quinton delivery office for over nine years, had lived with his wife in Rowley Regis but moved out in May last year when they separated.

In January this year, she found more than 15,000 items of post in the loft, some of which should have been delivered three-and-a-half years previously.

Mr Dove said more than 4,500 similar items were found in his car and it was also discovered he had nine letters addressed to his estranged wife, one of which had been opened.

He said it had taken a seven and a half tonne truck to remove all the undelivered leaflets that were found and that Spiers had received £264 for bogusly claiming to have delivered them.

Martin Thomas, defending, said Spiers had got into debt because of a gambling addiction, had taken out a second mortgage on his home but was struggling to keep up with the repayments. He wanted to keep this secret from his wife and stole the letters in a bid to hide his problem.

Mr Thomas said there was no financial gain involved and that he stashed the leaflets in his loft while in a state of depression and under the strain and pressure of trying to save his marriage.