Man who mailed faeces appeals for licence back
An Auckland real estate agent who mailed faeces to his former employer’s lawyer has appealed against the revoking of his licence at the Auckland High Court.
The Real Estate Agents Authority Disciplinary Tribunal fined Grant Tucker, 59, a total of $3500 for two charges of disgraceful conduct and revoked his licence to sell real estate in January.
The first charge the tribunal dealt with alleged Tucker had mailed ‘‘derogatory and offensive’’ letters to his former employer at Custom Residential, John Wills, and mailed a jar of faeces to Custom Residential’s lawyer, David Beard.
The second charge alleged Tucker had sent packages containing soiled sanitary pads and a condom to both Beard and Wills, sent letters to customers of Custom Residential, posted an inappropriate message on Wills’ company Facebook page and verbally abused Wills in 2015.
Although he admitted to sending the jar of faeces, Tucker has maintained he had only forwarded it. His lawyer, Nikki Pender said he denied sending the packages which were accompanied by anonymous letters.
In 2015, Tucker was fined and discharged without conviction by the Auckland District Court for sending the jar of faeces to Beard.
Tucker’s lawyer said the tribunal found Tucker responsible for ‘‘derogatory and offensive’’ communications without taking account of the right to freedom of expression.