A POSTMAN was fo-und to have more than 120 bags of undelivered mail in his car and his home, a court heard.

Russell Gareth Newman, of Trinant Terrace, Trinant, admitted intentionally delaying 24,927 postal packets in Cwmcarn, between December 1, 2002 and July 15 this year.

Three minibuses were needed to transfer the sacks from 47-year-old Newman's property to Post Office property, Blackwood magistrates were told.

The court was told that Newman had worked for the Royal Mail for 18 months.

Scott Bowen, prosecuting for the Royal Mail, said during that time a number of complaints were received from the general public that mail had not been delivered.

He said Newman was moved from his duties and complaints were no longer received.

"They were received again when he went back," said Mr Bowen.

An investigation was launched by the Royal Mail and six parcels were placed in Newman's mail sacks. Three were found to have been delivered, but the other three were not.

On July 15 this year, a dozen Royal Mail bags were found in Newman's car and 110 in outhouses at his home, which were stacked 'from floor to ceiling'.

Mr Bowen said that when Newman was interviewed, he said he had been under too much pressure and unable to cope with the deliveries - and apologised for what he had done.

Tracy Wilkes, representing Newman, said her client had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

She said there was no suggestion he had the mail for his own benefit - and added he had been unable to cope with the increasing demands of the job.

Newman, who is on unconditional bail, was sent to Newport crown court for sentencing and will appear on October 8. Pre-sentence reports were ordered.

A spokeswoman for the Royal Mail said after the magistrates' court hearing that Newman resigned from his job in July, after being interviewed by the internal investigation team.

"The majority of the recovered items were delivered to customers with a letter of apology as soon as possible," she said.

About ten per cent of the items were damaged and were sent to the retrieved letter unit where experts attempted to discover the intended recipients, she added.

She said such incidents were extremely rare among staff and the Royal Mail operated a 'zero-tolerance' policy to the mistreatment of mail in its care.