Mail thief braces for community backlash

A Christchurch woman says she is now living a ‘‘reclusive’’ existence after she was revealed as a rural mail thief last year.

Anna Leigh Hunter is expecting a repeat of the online bitterness she experienced a year ago, since her name suppression was lifted at her Christchurch District Court sentencing.

The 35-year-old said she faced threats and abuse when her name was reported last year – before the suppression order was put in place – with comments across social media and a whole session of talkback radio devoted to her case.

Her defence counsel, Sunny Teki-Clark, said she was ‘‘vilified’’ and expected ‘‘that’s all going to happen again’’ if her suppression was lifted yesterday’s sentencing.

‘‘She expects she will be subject to a fresh round of abuse and threats,’’ Teki-Clark told Judge Alistair Garland.

Hunter admitted a representative charge detailing thefts from

104 different rural mailboxes between September 28 and October

11 last year. Items worth a total of $623 were taken and most were found in the car Hunter was using, or at her property.

She told police she thought it was ‘‘funny’’ when she did the thefts, but felt bad about it later. She told a probation officer before her sentencing that she did not know what had ‘‘possessed’’ her to do it, and she was remorseful.

Teki-Clark said a mental health background was a factor in the offending. Hunter was recovering from substance abuse and the effects of negative personal relationships.

Judge Garland said Hunter stole mail from 104 rural mailboxes in the Selwyn district and around the outskirts of Christchurch. She took mail containing bank statements, bank cards, invoices, outgoing cheques for payment of invoices, registration labels, reward cards, personal letters, brochures, and property bought online.

Judge Garland refused to continue the name suppression order and sentenced Hunter to do 100 hours’ community work and placed her on supervision for a year. He ordered her to pay reparations of $623.