Postman dumped Christmas mail

He was ordered to do 240 hours community service.

Philip Wallwork, 28, of Martyns Way, stored mail sacks in his bedroom in the run-up to Christmas and later claimed he intended delivering it when the seasonal rush had died down.

But he panicked when his landlady said she wanted to spring-clean his room and dumped some of the mail pouches at Pebsham tip, hiding others in an old milk float.

He came unstuck in January when a refuse worker spotted two mail pouches at the tip and staff alerted Post office bosses.

Lewes Crown Court heard Wallwork had 2,453 letters stashed in his bedroom and 694 items in his van, making a total of 3,147 items - not taking into account unrecovered mail.

Wallwork, now a pesticide sprayer, also admitted opening some of the post and stealing around 70 from greetings cards along with taking mobile phone top-up cards.

The main streets affected were London Road and Clifford Road but post also failed to arrive in other parts of the town stretching from Little Common to Pebsham and Sidley.

Wallwork was also ordered to pay 543.75p prosecution costs.