An argument over a parcel allegedly erupted into a street fight - with a Royal Mail worker suspended from his job with no pay as a result. It has been reported that punches were thrown during the incident.
Royal Mail delivery driver Mark Walker, 38, said he had left a parcel on the doorstep of a home after getting no answer at the door. However, he alleges that as he went to leave, he was confronted by an angry customer. The row then descended into violence, he told StokeonTrentLive.
The alleged altercation has been reported to police.
Mark, an agency worker from Chesterton, Staffordshire, told StokeonTrentLive: "The customer approached the van with a parcel in his hand. I started winding my window down, I presumed I’d delivered the wrong parcel.
“He basically swore at me and said ‘No, you delivered the right parcel but I would have f****** appreciated it if you'd knocked on'. I said ‘I did knock on, mate'.
“I knocked hard. I gave it a good knock, I always do. It’s just a natural thing you do when you’re doing the job, you want them to answer."
Mark said the customer kicked his van, so he got out to assess the damage. But he said the customer then starting trying to punch him and knocked his glasses off. He said he threw two punches in self-defence.
Mark - who suffered a black eye - said he immediately called Staffordshire Police. The customer, he said, was aged 40 to 45 and had short, dark brown hair. Mark said he had now been suspended from his work.
He added: “I feel like I'm a victim of an assault and I've literally been off work as they’ve suspended me with no pay. I just feel like I've been mistreated by Royal Mail as someone who’s been attacked working for them. In my opinion, I’ve done absolutely nothing wrong except to go to work and do an honest day’s work and I feel like I've been punished.”
Police are aware of the case.
A police spokesman said: "We were called to an address following reports of violence against a person. It is believed two men were involved in the incident, with one of the men believed to be a delivery driver. Inquiries are ongoing."
A Royal Mail spokesman said: "We cannot comment on a case of this type, including while it is the subject of an ongoing police inquiry.”
