Show caption The man reportedly told police ‘it was too much bother to deliver them’. Photograph: Bloomberg via Getty Images Japan Japanese postal worker hoarded 24,000 undelivered items Man referred to prosecutors over mail dating back to 2003 found at home in Kanagawa

Agence France-Presse in Tokyo Fri 24 Jan 2020 12.17 GMT Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Share via Email 7 months old

A Japanese former postal worker faces possible charges after police discovered he stockpiled a mountain of mail at his home, reportedly saying it was “too much bother” to deliver the items.

The man was referred to prosecutors for allegedly violating postal law, a Kanagawa prefectural police spokesman told Agence France-Presse.

Local media reported that the 61-year-old had about 24,000 undelivered items dating back to 2003 at his home in Kanagawa, near Tokyo.

He reportedly told the police “it was too much bother to deliver them”.

“I didn’t want my colleagues to think I was less capable than younger people,” he added.

If convicted, the man faces a jail sentence of less than three years or fines of up to 500,000 yen (£3,400), the police spokesman said.