Missing mail - postal worker charged with theft

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http://www.pendletoday.co.uk/9/Missing- ... 3659064.jp

A DISHONEST postal worker stole and delayed items of mail intended for residents in Clitheroe last summer, it was confirmed this week.
In June, there were rumours of an investigation at Clitheroe sorting office, after residents in the Shays Drive and Claremont Avenue area complained of missing mail. After inquiring at the sorting office, they had learned of an official investigation.

However, at the time a spokesman for Royal Mail would neither confirm nor deny the rumours, instead issuing a Customer Services phone number for anyone experiencing problems with deliveries.

Following an article in the Clitheroe Advertiser & Times, more residents came forward, some having received mail which had been opened, accompanied by a letter of apology stating: "I am sorry the enclosed mail has been found in this condition
after being withheld from delivery by a Royal Mail employee."

This week a resident of Claremont Avenue outlined his experiences of missing mail and ongoing efforts to resolve the issue and a Royal Mail spokesman said: "We apologise to customers who experienced problems with their mail in May and June 2007. As a result of a Royal Mail investigation a member of staff was convicted of three charges relating to the intentional delay of mail, theft of postal packets and destruction of a number of items. The member of staff involved no longer works for Royal Mail.

"Royal Mail has a zero tolerance approach to any dishonesty and we will always seek to prosecute the tiny minority of people who abuse their position of trust. This stance is shared by the vast majority of our postmen and women who are honest and hardworking and who do all they can to protect the mail and deliver it safely."

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Last Updated: 10 January 2008 9:48 AM