A postman who hid 75,000 items of mail because he was too lazy to deliver them has been jailed for nine months after being convicted of theft.

John Hodson, 33, was caught after Royal Mail bosses placed tracking devices in his daily round.

Although he stole hundreds of pounds in cash and shopping vouchers to try to cover personal debts of £40,000, police found thousands of unopened letters and packages in his garden shed. These included 70,000 pieces of junk mail, which made up the vast majority of his hoard.

Read more: Postman jailed after hiding 75,000 letters in garden shed – Crime – UK – The Independent.

The Malta Communications Authority has published two consultation documents ahead of the total liberalisation of postal services next year.

The MCA’s chairman, Philip Micallef, said the new liberalised environment would bring with it new challenges and opportunities for postal operators.

"It should also result in more choice and a better deal overall for consumers. From a regulatory perspective, these are hectic and exciting times, and we look forward to managing this new state of affairs fully aware of the complexities it presents," he said.

The purpose of the consultation documents is for the Authority to receive feedback on the Government’s proposed approach to regulation under this new regulatory framework.

Read more: Consultation on postal services liberalisation – timesofmalta.com.

Denis Lemelin was in the audience of yesterday’s annual public meeting of Canada Post in Ottawa, where he spoke out against proposals for cutbacks for the Corporation, as it responds to its declining mail volumes and loss-making status.

Read more: Union leader calls for Canada Post to get into financial services | Post & Parcel.

Major losses at Canada Post are set to continue this year, next year and beyond until the company can reposition itself with a focus on ecommerce parcels, digital communications and direct marketing.

That was the message from the Crown Corporation’s president and CEO Deepak Chopra today, as he addressed an annual public meeting in Ottawa.

After a rocky year in which Canada Post has been hit by catastrophic conflict with its unionised workforce, a $150m lawsuit over pay equity, accelerating mail volume declines and a $6.6bn pension deficit, the Corporation has come off 16 consecutive years of profitability to record a $253m loss in 2011.

Read more: Canada Post losses to continue until business model changes | Post & Parcel.