Royal Mail has suspended deliveries to a Sheffield neighbourhood after one of its postmen was “badly hurt” in an attack.
Residents at Cradock Mews, Norfolk Park have been unable to receive post at their home addresses for nearly one month following the incident, which Royal Mail said caused more than £400 worth of damage to one its vehicles. One resident told The Star the postman was pulled out of his van and assaulted during the attack.
Naomi Lee, who lives at the supported living facility, said the attack was carried out by a “high-risk” tenant and a man who lives with her against the accommodation’s rules.
She said it started after the man’s dog ran into the road in the path of the oncoming delivery vehicle “because it wasn’t on the lead.”
“The man and his girlfriend started hitting the van and managed to get the driver out of it and badly hurt him,” Naomi said.
Royal Mail have since said the risk in delivering to the area is “unacceptably high due to the threat of further customer abuse.”
A police investigation into the incident is underway, they said, with residents required to travel to Pond Street Delivery Office to find out if they have post.
Naomi said: “They won't let us do a bulk delivery. We have elderly residents, people with mobility issues and people that don't drive who need to take public transport.
“The pregnant lady next door to me is high risk. She has missed three hospital appointments because of missing her post and she has seven weeks to go.”
GP prescriptions are also unable to be delivered.
Naomi added: “We have been told that until a health and safety assessment they won't consider redelivering our mail. It could be two or three months before it's sorted out.
“The workers have said even when it is sorted out they still don't want to deliver to the area.”
The pair allegedly responsible for the assault have since been spotted on CCTV walking around the estate with baseball bats, but Naomi said the accommodation’s liason officer told her nothing can be done as the man is not a tenant.
The Star has contacted South Yorkshire Police, Royal Mail and The Guinness Partnership, who run Cradock Mews, for comment.