An ex-postal worker has been told to expect jail for stealing more than 42,000 packages.
Mounds of opened and unopened mail, stolen from Royal Mail's Braintree base, was found stashed in Graham King's loft and garden shed.
The 47-year-old, who has recently moved from Easterford Road, Kelvedon, to St Peter's Street in Lowestoft, pleaded guilty to four counts of theft at Chelmsford Crown Court yesterday (May 6).
The charges related to the theft of 6,539 in packages dating back to November 1, 2006, 35,538 packages stolen from 2011 to 2013, stealing a package containing £30 in gift cards and vouchers in 2012 and another item, a letter, in November, 2013.
"Imprisonment is almost inevitable," said Recorder Charles Gratwicke.
While King has worked for Royal Mail since December 2002, it was not until October 2013 that a large amount of undelivered and misdirected mail was reported to the postal authorities, the court heard.
On November 8 last year, Royal Mail investigators targeted King, who agreed to be searched.
At his house they found a "significant amount" in his loft and garden shed after one item was found in his left trouser pocket.
King was released on unconditional bail to return to the court for the week starting May 26 for sentence.
