A former New Zealand Post worker has been jailed for 18 months and ordered to pay more than $30,000 reparation after she hoarded tens of thousands of mail items.
Philippa Lynette Lindsay previously admitted a charge of theft by a person in a special relationship, when as postal delivery woman in Queenstown she hoarded more than 21,000 mail items instead of delivering them.
The 32-year-old was arrested in November last year after police found between 3000 and 5000 stolen items of mail at her residence.
Another 10,000 letters, parcels and postcards were discovered at a storage unit in Arrowtown.
At the Queenstown District Court on Monday, Lindsay read a out a letter of apology to the community, saying she never intended to cause hurt or pain and failed to see the bigger picture of how her offending would affect people.
In sentencing, Judge Kevin Phillips said the harm caused was immeasurable and he had to send a message that this type of offending would not be tolerated.
Lindsay must pay New Zealand Post $30,000 and $331 to several people who proved that they never received items.
