Dad-of-one Martyn is tight for cash after being sacked (Picture: SWNS)

An Amazon delivery driver who was robbed while delivering parcels by a thief who stole 62 packages has been sacked.

And to add insult to injury, Martyn Gilham has been told the cost of repairs to the van and replacing the parcels will come out of his wages.

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The 28-year-old was forced to the ground by a man dressed all in black who grabbed his keys as he delivered packages in Coventry on December 28.

The thief escaped with the parcels and Martyn’s wallet, which was in the back, but police later recovered the van.


A week later, the dad-of-one received a text from his boss at Fast Despatch Transport Ltd in Leicester, an agency that provides Amazon with couriers.

He was sacked over text message (Picture: SWNS)

Martyn was forced to the ground and had the keys snatched out of his hand (Picture: SWNS)

The message read: ‘Still waiting for police to release the van. About work, we will not use your service any more.



‘About your earning, we have to wait to see what will be the bill for the van and for the parcels inside and you receive the rest.’

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Martyn said: ‘It has left me in total shock. I’m a victim of crime and yet I’m the one who’s getting blamed.’

He added: ‘That job was my main income. The bills come out on the 1st of the month and I have bills piling up.

‘My wallet was in the van as well so I had no bank card for days and I still have no driving licence.

The van is being searched by forensics teams (Picture: SWNS)

Martyn said the thief was dressed all in black (Picture: Facebook)

‘My last payment from the company was on Tuesday 19 December and now I’m missing six full days of pay.

‘I should imagine a company like Amazon would have insurance for their parcels so I don’t understand why my wages have to cover them.’

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A spokesman for Amazon said: ‘This is a serious incident and we are pleased the delivery driver is safe. We are working with the independent delivery provider which is investigating.

‘We are committed to ensuring that the people contracted by our independent delivery providers are fairly compensated, treated with respect, and follow all applicable laws.’

A spokesman for Fast Despatch Transport Ltd said: ‘The safety of the contracted drivers we work with is our key priority and we are investigating this matter with the police.

Police are investigating the robbery (Picture: Facebook)

‘Drivers are trained in the safety and security of themselves and their vehicles.

‘When drivers leave Fast Despatch Transport they are paid all money owed to them after a short time period which allows us to calculate outstanding amounts due, such as repair of any damage to the vehicle caused by the driver while delivering parcels.

‘This is clearly explained to the drivers when they start working with us. The driver will not be charged the cost of stolen parcels.’

West Midlands Police urged anyone with information about the theft in Recreation Road, Coventry, at midday on December 28 to call 101 quoting reference number 20CV/279870N/17.