Late post robs man of 'dream job'

Jonathon Thompson now works for a courier company

A Derby man said he had been cheated out of his dream career because his acceptance letter did not arrive for nearly five years.

Jonathon Thompson, now 21, from Sinfin, was 17 when he went for an apprenticeship at Rolls-Royce.

But the acceptance letter did not reach him until 12 December this year.

Royal Mail apologised, saying an employee was suspended after a "substantial quantity" of undelivered mail was recovered.

A number of people contacted the BBC to say their post had arrived late.

It was destined for addresses in the DE24 postcode area, which includes Sinfin and Alvaston.

When Mr Thompson applied for the apprenticeship he had several tests and induction days over a period of four months.

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When he heard nothing he thought he had been unsuccessful.

A letter which arrived last week informed him he had to reply to confirm his interest in the training.

"I never got that, so they assumed I was no longer interested in it," said Mr Thompson.

Rolls-Royce is currently in talks about a planned cut of 140 jobs at its assembly and test facility in Derby.

Mr Thompson later took a part-time job in a supermarket before getting a full-time position with a courier company.

In a statement Royal Mail said it had a "zero-tolerance approach" to dishonesty among its staff.

"We will always seek to prosecute the tiny minority of people who abuse their position of trust," it added.

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Jonathon Thompson only received the letter a few days ago