Church Stretton postal worker burned mail

A 36-year-old Shropshire postal worker burned a bin liner full of mail and failed to deliver thousands of items after failing to cope with his job, a court heard today.

Brendan Kinsella, of Swains Meadow, Church Stretton, failed to deliver nearly 5,000 items of post between June 2009 and March this year, Telford Magistrates Court heard.

He admitted delaying postage of 3,634 addressed packets and 828 advertising mailshots. He also admitted opening 21 items including greetings cards, damaging a quantity of mail by fire and destroying 327 postal packages.

Mr Stephen Scully, prosecuting, said there had been 29 complaints between June 2009 and February this year regarding Kinsella's delivery route in Church Stretton.

Mr Scully said one person had requested a death certificate that failed to arrive six times.

He said: "On March 12 Royal Mail investigators approached Mr Kinsella and he consented to a search."

The court heard mail was found in the hallway, lounge, conservatory, and bedroom and a number of other places at Kinsella's house.

Mr Scully added: "He admitted he had burnt a black bin liner of mail and probably a couple of carrier bags."

Mr Steven Meredith, for Kinsella, said his client was remorseful and fully admitted what he had done.

He said: "The stress was building up. Initially he was doing his best. It got on top of him."

The court heard there had been staffing issues at Royal Mail and Kinsella said he had to work overtime, which was not always paid.

Magistrates said they were leaving all options open and the case was adjourned for reports before sentence is passed.