A POSTMAN will appear in court accused of delaying and opening 750 letters and parcels.

Dhiran Padnya, 33, is accused of five counts of waylaying and stealing post between September 1, 2011, and September 18, 2013.

He also accused of stealing an iPhone from Royal Mail on September 17, 2013, and a Dell laptop from the company on October 11, 2012.

The alleged offences happened while Padnya, of Rectory Road, North Fambridge, was employed by Royal Mail at Chelmsford.

His case was raised at Basildon Magistrates’ Court on December 18, but was adjourned until January 17 because he is abroad.