Michelle Antionette Kinchington pleads guilty to stalking, fraud

An aged care worker who landed in court after first stalking her tenant and then selling his belongings on Facebook has said she thought she was exercising her right to free speech.

Michelle Antionette Kinchington pleaded guilty at Gympie Magistrates Court on Tuesday, April 29, 2025 to stalking and fraud over her conduct in a dispute with her victim, who was renting a room at her home.

An aged care worker who stalked her intellectually disabled tenant and sold his belongings on Facebook has claimed she thought she was merely exercising her right to free speech.

Michelle Antionette Kinchington pleaded guilty Tuesday to stalking and fraud over her conduct in a dispute with her victim, who was renting a room at her home.

Police prosecutor Alison Johnston said the 56-year-old had sent several “threatening” messages to the victim over the five months from February to July, 2023.

The court heard these were asking the man for money.

Kinchington then posted a photo of his belongings, kept in her garage, on Facebook.

Michelle Antionette Kinchington pleaded guilty at Gympie Magistrates Court on Tuesday, April 29, 2025 to stalking and fraud over her conduct in a dispute with her victim, who was renting a room at her home.

The post included an offer to sell the items saying “take what you like for $300”.

Sgt Johnston said officers had been able to recover most of the victim’s belongings from one of the buyers, who did not realise Kinchington was not their owner.

Kinchington, who represented herself as she was ineligible for Legal Aid and on Jobseeker, told the court she had been forced to hand over her blue and yellow cards as a result of her actions.

She rented the room out as she needed income amid the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, she said.

The court was told Kinchington had been drinking at the time of her offending and alcohol had been a “big problem” in her life.

She had no previous criminal record.

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Magistrate Bevan Hughes placed Kinchington on one year’s probation, and restrained her from making any contact with her victim for five years.

Kinchington said the Facebook post, which she mistakenly believed was the cause of the stalking charge instead of fraud, she had made thinking it was “free speech”.

The court was told she had tried to sell his belongings as she was worried they would attract vermin.

She was “very sorry” it all happened, the court heard.

Magistrate Hughes placed Kinchington on one year’s probation, and restrained her from making any contact with her victim for five years.

“You can’t simply sell things that are not yours,” Mr Hughes said.

No conviction was recorded.