POSTMAN Kevin Bute kept more than 1,600 letters in the boot of his car because he got lost while on his rounds.
Bute, 19, was arrested on September 9. He was caught with 1,607 unopened letters and 11 opened ones.
Bute, of Featherstone Street, Sunderland, who was working for Royal Mail while waiting to start college, appeared at Sunderland Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.
He pleaded guilty to unlawfully delaying post and unlawfully opening post.
Lisa Bishop, in mitigation, said Bute was sorry for what had happened.
She said Bute hid the letters because he did not know the route where he was supposed to deliver them, and was becoming increasingly distressed at being unable to deliver them on time.
Magistrates adjourned the case for reports.
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