A POSTMAN who secretly hid more than 5,000 items he was supposed to deliver blamed Royal Mail bosses for working him too hard.

Kevin Ewing, 31, dumped the items over a four-year period and claimed he did it so he could finish his round early to spend time with his daughter.

Yesterday at Perth Sheriff Court, Ewing, who lost his job as a result, admitted four charges relating to the non-delivery of thousands of postal packets.

Ewing, of Wallace Crescent, Perth, said: "I realise how serious these charges are and I feel deeply ashamed of my actions. I feel sorry for the stress and anxieties I have caused for members of the public who have not received items of their post."

Sentence on Ewing was deferred for the preparation of social work reports.