Postman faces crime charge after mail found in his home

The postman, who hasn't been named, quit his job at the West Delivery Office in Sighthill

The employee, who has not been named, was caught after a Royal Mail investigation led to his address. It is understood some of the mail had been opened.

It is understood the postie was suspended pending an inquiry by Royal Mail, but quickly resigned from his job at the West Delivery Office in South Gyle Crescent.

Royal Mail's security team are now preparing a dossier of evidence to pass to the procurator fiscal to determine whether criminal charges will be brought against him.

A Royal Mail spokeswoman said: "An employee from Edinburgh West Delivery Office has been suspended as part of an investigation into the intentional delay of mail.

"The delayed mail is being delivered to customers with a covering letter explaining the delay and telling them who to contact should they require further information. We apologise to any customer whose mail has been affected.

"Royal Mail has a zero tolerance approach to any dishonesty and that stance is shared by the overwhelming majority of postmen and women.

"It is a criminal offence to tamper with or delay the delivery of mail and anyone caught doing so will face serious disciplinary measures and Royal Mail will always seek to prosecute the tiny minority who abuse their position of trust. The safety and security of mail is of the utmost importance to this business and Royal Mail will not allow the actions of any individual to damage the good reputation of our thousands of hard-working postmen and women."

Last April, figures showed that Royal Mail was forced to pay out more than 130,000 in compensation to customers in Edinburgh and the Lothians as complaints climbed to 50 a day.

Households in the EH postcode made 17,148 complaints about lost, mis-delivered and damaged mail between April 2008 and March last year.

Four postal workers were sacked for failing to deliver mail during the year.

In January, Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard how a stressed postie left hundreds of letters and parcels at his Capital home because he could not cope with his round.

Ross Henderson, 23, from Carrick Knowe Terrace, said he had become mentally exhausted from the constant changes in his delivery route. Henderson admitted delaying 1611 postal packets between July 13 and July 23 last year at Edinburgh North West Delivery Office, Comely Bank. He also admitted delaying a further 17 items between June 12 and June 17 last year.