A former shop worker, Mahlon Hector, has escaped a jail sentence in Britain after he admitted to a court that he sent a Mexican red-kneed tarantula spider to his immediate boss on the day he left his job at the Marks & Spencer store in Leicester.
Hector believed that the "practical joke" might help his "dour" boss discover her sense of humour.
According to The Times:
Hector admitted a charge of sending a threatening communication for the purpose of causing distress and was ordered to carry out 200 hours of community work and to pay Ms Griffin £200 compensation.Richard Meadows, for the prosecution, told the court that Hector, 22, had bought it a few days before his notice period ran out, packaged it up and arranged for it to be delivered to Ms Griffin who, it was alleged, still suffers anxiety when asked to open a parcel, and has trouble sleeping.
Daniel Howe, mitigating, said that Hector had sent it as a practical joke after discussing the idea with colleagues during his final days in the job.
"Unfortunately he went farther than talking and decided to carry it out," Mr Howe said.