A postman accused of stealing mail who was unfairly dismissed by Royal Mail is still fighting to return to his job.
Royal Mail was ordered to reinstate David Mitchell after no clear evidence was found he had stolen greetings cards containing money and gift vouchers.
However, it is challenging the outcome of the employment tribunal and turned Mr Mitchell away when he returned for duty at Cupar delivery office.
Mr Mitchell, 57, told The Courier the stress of being accused of stealing from customers after 27 years of service had taken its toll on his health and his family.
He said: “It has been 15 months since my nightmare began and my family has suffered alongside me.
“My health has suffered and though I look for alternative employment it is almost impossible under the circumstances.”
A volunteer driver for Age Concern, Mr Mitchell, of Chance Inn, said: “I have given the best years of my life to Royal Mail.
“I only want to go back to work and for my life to go back to some sort of normality.”
Locals launched a petition and customers wrote to Royal Mail demanding Mr Mitchell be reinstated after his dismissal in December, last year, for alleged misconduct.
The case was reported to the procurator fiscal who decided against prosecuting, due to a lack of evidence.
Mr Mitchell’s tribunal heard there was an unusually high number of losses of greetings cards containing money or gift vouchers from Cupar delivery office.
Test cards were planted and the results led to surveillance of Mr Mitchell.
He was stopped and searched after leaving his home, where he had stopped for lunch, but no trace of the items were found on him or in his van, car or in his home.
Mr Mitchell’s argument that someone else in the delivery office could have taken the items was rejected.
Judge Ian McFatridge concluded there were insufficient grounds for Royal Mail to sustain its belief he was guilty.
Mr Mitchell said: “I fully understand that Royal Mail’s priority is to safeguard the delivery of its customers’ mail.
“I did this and more for 27 years.
“I went beyond the call of duty for my customers and they have supported me beyond the call of duty through my ordeal, starting a local campaign on my behalf.”
However, he added: “I would implore anyone in Royal Mail with an ounce of compassion to rethink the decision to challenge the judge’s ruling.”
Mr Mitchell has launched a petition on change.org, stating judges’ decisions must be final in employment law.
A Royal Mail spokeswoman said: “We have studied the judgment in this case and are seeking a reconsideration hearing on the reinstatement of this ex-employee.
“The safety and security of mail is of the utmost importance to this business.”
Picture by David Wardle