Postman jailed for letter theft

Fryer was accused of stealing the items over 15 months

A postman who stole more than 130,000 undelivered letters and leaflets has been jailed for two years.

Nicholas Fryer, who worked at the Kidsgrove sorting office, took bags of mail home when he thought he would not get them delivered in time.

The 31-year-old first started stealing mail five years ago and was caught on his round in May this year, Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court was told.

Fryer, from Mellard Street, Audley, was also accused of false accounting.

'Bulging with mail'

The charge related to the non-delivery of 641 items of mail.

In November, Fryer admitted a total of eight charges, including two of theft.

The prosecution said on Friday his home was "bulging with mail" the equivalent of a 172 bags of post.

He opened anything he thought was valuable and was accused of stealing 5,577 postal packages in Nantwich, Cheshire, and 127,918 items in Audley over 15 months, the court heard.

Judge Tonking said although Fryer had not stolen a great amount of money the public will wonder if other postmen may also be stealing mail.