Postman jailed for hoarding mail

A postman has been jailed for a year after he admitted hoarding mail.

Lee Malin, 35, of Harrier Road, Acocks Green, Birmingham, admitted stealing post and not delivering items over a three-year period.

In April, Royal Mail investigators at the Redfern Park office in the city saw Malin taking post which was not for his round, Warwick Crown Court was told.

Five packages, 56 letters and a bin bag of shredded mail were found in a search of his car and home.

The court heard that in 2001 the postman began to hoard mail rather than complete a particularly strenuous round, because he developed problems with his legs and found it too much.

'Zero tolerance'

Jailing Malin for 12 months, Judge Richard Cole gave him credit for pleading guilty, his co-operation and previous good character.

But he said Malin was in a position of trust which he had betrayed.

In a statement, Royal Mail said it was pleased the court had endorsed its "zero tolerance" stance on mail theft in which the organisation always prosecutes where appropriate.