Longleat keeper tried to frame colleague to hide f ling
A SAFARI park keeper framed a fellow worker in a bid to keep her fling with one of his friends secret.
Married mother Hayleigh flak, 28, posed as an angry customer to accuse Craig Brooks – who knew about the one-night stand – of being abusive.
she hoped that her bosses at Longleat safari Park in Wiltshire would put him on different shifts from her, and thereby prevent him from having an opportunity to spill the beans to her husband.
However, her plan backfired and she found herself before magistrates charged with harassment after investigating police found the emails had been sent from her computer. The royal Navy sailor’s wife was desperate that details of her affair did not become public.
for that reason she sent two emails to Longleat bosses pretending to be a customer in which she accused Mr Brooks of being abusive to visitors.
Ellen McAnaw, defending pregnant flak, told the court in Chippenham, Wiltshire, the safari worker had been ‘incredibly stupid’.
she added: ‘This offence came about because of Miss flak’s sexual encounter with a colleague who was good friends with Mr Brooks, the victim in this case. The person she had the affair with told Mr Brooks what had happened. she was worried her husband would find out and her intention was to send these emails and get Mr Brooks put on a different shift.
‘it was not particularly bright, in fact it was incredibly stupid. Her husband is in the royal Navy and is now going to find out what happened. she said she is going to go home tonight and tell him the full details and she’s sure that’s going to end her marriage. she has two children and is 16 weeks pregnant – it’s not a great position to be in.’
Anna Humphreys, prosecuting, said: ‘Mr Brooks was extremely distressed by the emails and said that he felt scared for his own personal safety.’
flak, from ilchester, somerset, pleaded guilty to harassing Mr Brooks between March 13 and April 1. she was given a restraining order and told to do 70 hours of unpaid community work. she was also found to be in breach of a conditional discharge after admitting to one count of fraud last year.
Mr Brooks was in fact praised last year on facebook by a genuine park visitor who wrote: ‘Exceptional employee!
‘Car overheated and he was so helpful not only shutting the gates to allow us to get out of the car but being friendly patient and even helping to fix the car.’