Postman dumped mail in woodland

The court heard Stuart had lost interest in his job

A postman dumped thousands of items of mail in woods and failed to deliver thousands more, a court has heard.

Two weeks into his job, Adam Stuart, 22, from the Conwy valley, also opened letters and stole various items.

The case was sent to crown court for sentence after Stuart admitted two counts of delaying the mail and stealing 67 packets.

Llandudno magistrates heard he had "lost interest" in his job. A forestry worker found 3,100 dumped mail items.

Bench chairman Emrys Williams described the offences as very grave.

The court was told Stuart had dumped more than 3,000 items of mail in woods near his home, and failed to deliver 2,465 other packets.

Among the missing items were, store vouchers, scooter parts, a watch, gold ring, sportswear.

'Lost interest'

Dafydd Roberts, prosecuting for the Royal Mail, said Stuart confessed to investigators that he had not delivered post.

"He stated he had lost interest in his job having not been paid for the work he had done, so he couldn't be bothered," Mr Roberts said.

Stuart had been a postman for a fortnight at the time of the offences, but had previously worked as a casual worker.

Mr Roberts said he was caught after a colleague noticed mail for her at a sorting office which wasn't later delivered by him.

Ten complaints were also made by householders and businesses about undelivered post.

Investigators searched his vehicle and home.

In May, a forestry worker discovered 3,100 items of mail dumped in woods close to the defendants home.

Magistrate's chairman Emrys Williams told him: "Due to the gravity of these offences we are going to commit you to the crown court for sentence."

Richard Williams, defending, said Stuart, who was based at Colwyn Bay as a postman, had been diagnosed with dyspraxia which affected his co-ordination and thinking skills.

"He had extremely limited training and for somebody with his condition that unfortunately is very counterproductive," he said.