Another stinky surprise for Auckland lawyer

Lawyer David Beard received an envelope containing faeces, a used sanitary pad and a used condom. In 2014 he received a package of faeces from a disgruntled real estate agent. Photo / Rob Kidd

A man who received a package of faeces in the post from a disgruntled real estate agent has been sent another stinky surprise.

In February 2014, Auckland lawyer David Beard received a smashed glass jar full of faeces, which he classed as the most bizarre thing to happen during his 17 years practicing law.

But it looks like lightning has struck twice.

"I don't know about lightning," Mr Beard said.

"It's an envelope with a used tampon, a dirty old condom and a whole load of s***."

He said he received it at his PO Box yesterday but only revealed its horrific contents when he opened the envelope this afternoon.

The grubby assortment was folded into pages of a magazine and as soon as Mr Beard realised what was inside he said he delicately returned the contents to the envelope and put it in a plastic bag to preserve any potential evidence.

He said the whole scenario was bewildering but that the "surprise factor's gone".

As he did 15 months ago, Mr Beard took the offensive item to the police station to make a complaint.

Duty officers were shocked to hear of what was inside the envelope and physically recoiled when shown a photo of the contents.

Rather than destroy the package - as was the case last year - the officer took the envelope out of the plastic bag to stop it "sweating" and put it in a small cardboard box to be stored alongside other hazardous evidence.

Mr Beard said he would be very surprised if police found any conclusive DNA or fingerprints.

Though he acknowledged some might find the situation amusing, he said his partner was concerned for their safety at home and worried they may be targeted again.

Only a couple of weeks ago, 58-year-old Grant Campbell Tucker was discharged without conviction after admitting being behind the 2014 incident.

The container he sent smashed en route to Mr Beard's practice and the noxious contents had "seeped out" when the lawyer unwrapped it in his office and later at Auckland central police station.

Tucker was the original recipient of the faeces, which he found in his letterbox, and believed he was returning it to sender, the court heard.

Mr Tucker said he knew nothing about the most recent incident.

"I've got no idea other than maybe someone's jumping on the bandwagon there," he said.

"I've been trying to put all this behind me."