Post stress too much for front-line trooper

A FORMER Army hero who couldn’t cope with pressures of his job as a postman, stored hundreds of items of mail at his home in Oldham a court heard.

Trevor Walker (29), who served on the front-line in Iraq, was terrified that he would lose his job if his bosses discovered that he could not complete his daily delivery rounds in time.

Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court heard that he was caught out when his ex-partner found two bags stuffed with mail at the home they had shared in Chestnut Street, Chadderton, after the breakdown of their relationship.

Walker at first tried to blame his former girlfriend claiming she had set him up, and it was part of a vendetta against him.

He later accepted that he had been unable to cope with his workload, and hid undelivered mail rather than admit he was struggling.

Imposing a three-month prison sentence suspended for a year, Judge Maurice Green told him: “This was a gross breach of trust. People rely on postmen like you to deliver their mail and be honest.”

Dan Thomas, prosecuting, said Walker, of Ashton Crescent, Chadderton, had been working as a postman in Oldham for around six months when his relationship came to an end.

His former partner had been clearing items out of the home they shared when she found a black bin-liner stuffed with mail in a wardrobe.

She took it to the local Royal Mail delivery office and later found a second bin-bag full of mail under the bed.

The bags contained 443 addressed items, along with 262 door to door items. Eighty of the addressed packages were dated between June 21 and September 16 last year.

Mr Thomas said that later on, further undelivered items were discovered at the address, including the loft, and in his, and his partner’s cars.

Fear
Louise Brandon defending, said her client had acted “stupidly and immaturely” out of fear of what would happen to him.

She said he believed his would face severe disciplinary action for failing to complete his rounds, and was going home each day to a failed relationship at home.

“He had hidden his problems rather than confronting them” she added.

Walker pleaded guilty to two offences of interfering with mail.

Walker was ordered to carry out 120 hours unpaid work in the community, and pay £500 costs.

For the full version of this story buy Monday’s Chronicle or register to read digital editions