Linda Ashworth mails raw sausages to husband’s ex-colleague

A fuming animal rights activist mailed raw sausages and an equally foul message from South Australia to Queensland as payback for her husband’s lost job and obscene vegan jibes. DETAILS.

Linda Ashworth faced Mackay court after she mailed raw sausages to her husband's former colleague.

A vegan grandmother mailed raw sausages across state lines to her husband’s former colleague as payback for his lost job and obscene comments about the use of such meat.

Details of the “infantile” act were read out in Mackay Magistrates Court where Linda Ashworth pleaded guilty to using the postal service to menace, harass or cause offence.

The court heard Ashworth was a “passionate animal rights activist” involved in an ongoing dispute with her husband’s female colleague with whom he worked at Hay Point maritime business Daltug Pty Ltd.

Prosecutor Leonie Taufa’ao said the co-worker received the foul package on July 29, 2022, and soon called the police.

“The victim told police when she opened the parcel she observed three off raw sausages with the words “One for each of your big holes” glued to the inside of the box using letter tiles,” Ms Taufa’ao said.

Linda Ashworth faced Mackay court after she mailed raw sausages to her husband‘s former colleague. AAP Image/ David Swift.

“(She) told police she was grossly offended (and) believed it came from ex-employee Scott Ashworth and his wife Linda Ashworth after a work dispute had occurred.

“When she opened it, it stunk.”

The court heard the package was sent from a post office in Clare, South Australia where police found CCTV footage of Ms Ashworth mailing the parcel.

It was initially posted to Taylor’s Hotel in South Mackay, where the court heard a staff member was asked by a “woman called Linda” to send it on to Daltug anonymously “as a gift”.

Ms Taufa’ao said Ashworth made admissions to police during a search of her Freshwater Point home in November, calling “the victim a b---h a number of times” and saying the victim started the dispute.

Linda Ashworth pleaded guilty to using the postal service to menace, harass or cause offence. Photo: Zoe Devenport

Ashworth and her husband had been in South Australia after a relative’s passing on July 18, when the package was sent and around the same time, he lost his job, the court heard.

Defence lawyer Antoinette Morton, of Fisher Dore Lawyers, said the dispute originated from alleged comments made in 2021 by the co-worker.

“My client had Covid on a number of occasions (and the woman made) comments that my client wasn’t really that sick … and that she needed a ‘sausage up her a--e’,” Ms Morton said.

“That comment was particularly concerning to my client.”

“It was a spur of the moment decision by Ms Ashworth during a time when her husband was receiving phone calls about his employment.”

Ashworth’s lawyer said it was a spur of the moment decision. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Joel Carrett

Magistrate Damien Dwyer appeared astounded by the facts read out and suggested the case could “adjourn to the Children’s Court”, attracting giggles from those seated in the courtroom gallery.

“This is childish, stupid, silly, infantile rubbish,” he said

Ms Morton said Ms Ashworth was a mature woman with one adult child and two grandchildren.

“I’m assuming when you say mature, you mean physically,” Mr Dwyer said.

“Because this behaviour was not mature.”

Mr Dwyer accepted Ashworth had no serious criminal history and placed her on a 12-month $750 good behaviour bond.

A conviction was not recorded.