A postman failed to deliver hundreds of parcels to homes and businesses in Northamptonshire because he wanted to finish work early, a court heard.
Mark Tyrrell, aged 38, appeared at Northampton Magistrates’ Court yesterday and pleaded guilty to stealing 379 postal packets between August 1 last year and April 3 2013.
The court heard that Tyrrell had taken some of the post he was supposed to deliver home so he could get on an early train to go an visit his children in Canterbury.
Clare Fitzpatrick, prosecuting, said: “He had children living in Canterbury and he would take mail home so he could get on the first train to Canterbury. His intention was to take the mail back. But it got to the stage were there was too much to bring back.”
Andrew Gibson, in mitigation, said it had not been Tyrrell’s intention to steal the items.
He said: “He was doing it as a way to leave work early. It had been his intention to redeliver but he had so many at home that he did not know what to do.
“Because of his own stupidity, he now finds himself unemployed.”
Tyrrell, of Edinburgh Road, Kettering, was told by magistrates they were considering a sentence of unpaid work. The case was adjourned to enable a probation report to be completed.