By SCOTT MACLEOD
A Listener journalist is in trouble for opening the mail of a musician who played with The Beatles and Rolling Stones. Steve Braunias says the letter was among others in his post office box.
Braunias wrote an amusing story for the magazine, saying the royalty cheque for $82 that the letter included made him "suddenly remember" he had been a famous musician in the 1970s.
But English musician Jon Mark, who now lives in Taupo, says he will prosecute for breach of privacy.
The story said the US$52.75 was for playing on two John Mayall albums and mentioned the London firm that posted it and the New York bank it was drawn on.
Mark said those details were disclosed "not just to an individual but to the world and I don't like being [dumped] on".
The 60-year-old complained to police, New Zealand Post and the Listener. "I don't need the publicity," Mark said. "I'm not some pathetic, ageing rock star. I just don't want people opening my mail."
The story ended with a sentence asking the real Mark to contact the Listener for the cheque.
Braunias said he posted the cheque to Mark and did not mean to open his mail. "I bowled along to the post box, ripped'em all open, then thought, 'What the hell is this'? "
The mix-up occurred because Braunias inherited Mark's post office box on shifting to Eastbourne, Wellington.
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