FOOTBALL-mad schoolboy Joseph Thomas-Trickett was left heartbroken when Royal Mail refused to give him a parcel containing a replica shirt of his beloved Chelsea Football Club - nicknamed The Blues.

The seven-year-old had been excitedly awaiting the delivery, of the black away strip, with the name of Brazilian footballer David Luiz on the back, for weeks, but unfortunatley nobody was in to receive.

A slip was left at the home of his grandmother, Marilyn ‘Polly’ Trickett, to inform Joseph that the shirt could be collected from Royal Mail’s Dorcan depot.

But when Polly went with her grandson on Friday to pick up the parcel, which was addressed to Joseph, she wasn’t allowed to take it, being told she didn’t have the relevant photographic identication, despite having her passport, two letters proving her address and a bank card.

She said: “I was told by the manager that I needed to show my driving licence but the slip didn’t say that.

“I explained that I have an old driving licence without a photograph and despite me showing my passport they wouldn’t let us have it. The manager then said that it was to the Royal Mail’s discretion whether we got the parcel and we might have been able to take it if I’d have spoken nicer.

“I swear I wasn’t rude in the slightest. I just felt sorry for Joseph as he’d been so excited .”

A distraught Joseph had to go home without the shirt.

He said: “It was pretty embarrasing. There was a massive crowd forming behind us and they were all saying that the staff should just give me the shirt.”

Neither on the slip or Royal Mail’s website does it state that adults specifically need to bring a driving licence, as photograpghic identification, when they pick up parcels for children.

Polly has since complained to Royal Mail about the way she and her grandson were treated.

The pair picked up the shirt yesterday but it wasn’t an easy collection. “Before I went, I rang customer services to check what ID I would need and they didn’t say I could only get it with a driving licence,” she said.

“They said a passport, bank card or letter would do. But when I went down there, the lady said it was not sufficient.

“But she took it in good spirits and said she would make an exception this once and let me have the shirt.

“She said it was because they see so much fraud which is a sign of the times I suppose.

“I will never again order him something in Joseph’s name, which is a shame, as to have mail with your name on it as a child is so exciting.”

Polly said Joseph is delighted to finally be able to the wear his kit.

The Adver approached the Royal Mail about the incident but didn’t receive a response before going to print.

  • David Luiz transferred to French club Paris Saint-Germain in a £50m deal in June.