Michael Stewart, a 63-year-old postal worker from Amble, Northumberland, has been sentenced to six and a half years in prison for sexually assaulting women during his delivery rounds.

Stewart was convicted on multiple charges, including eight counts of sexual assault, following a nine-day trial.

The court heard that Stewart targeted five women, two of whom had died before his conviction.

One victim's family stated that her suicide was a direct result of Stewart's actions and Royal Mail's failure to respond to complaints about him.

Royal Mail has apologized to the victims and their families and has implemented new measures to prevent such crimes in the future.

Detective Constable Anthony Gourley praised the victims for their courage in coming forward and encouraged other victims to report their experiences.