Natalie Cepeniuk, former girlfriend of Married at First Sight star, convicted for illegal hunting
The former girlfriend of a Married at First Sight star has been convicted for illegal hunting after posting a photo of her kill online and declaring it “a stag I’ll never forget”. WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES
Law & Order
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The former girlfriend of a Married at First Sight star has been convicted for illegal hunting after gloating about her kill online.
Natalie Cepeniuk — who dated Lachlan McAleer after he appeared on the Channel 9 reality TV show — has been hit with more than $1200 in fines and ordered to forfeit a set of deer antlers she was getting mounted as a trophy.
The 31-year-old was caught after posting a photo of herself online in which she was holding a rifle with a dead deer.
She told the Herald Sun: “S--t happens when you hang with losers, don’t trust lying a---holes and it’s a stag I’ll never forget.”
“No need to make a comment about what happened, as I’ve learnt, people make their own opinions of you, without knowing you first anyway. So, I’m not bothered.
“Yes, I shot a deer without a money making scheme licence. Boo hoo.
“I wonder what they did back in the olden days without a licence.”
A landowner had called police after finding a headless carcass on their property at Bullioh near Tallangatta in Victoria’s northeast in July 2017.
Game Management Authority officers matched the location with Cepeniuk’s photo.
“She would have had to travel past a ‘No through road’ sign and a ‘No shooting’ sign,” director of compliance and intelligence Paul Stevens said.
A licence check found Cepeniuk didn’t hold a Victorian hunting licence.
Intelligence then led Game Management Authority officers to a taxidermist where they found and seized the deer antlers illegally taken.
Cepeniuk attracted controversy several years ago when she posted a graphic photo to social media with a dead joey’s neck in her mouth.
The passionate hunter and McAleer dated for six months between his quests for reality TV love on MAFS and then Farmer Wants a Wife.
She pleaded guilty at Wodonga Magistrates’ Court on July 9 to hunting and possessing game without a valid game licence.
Court documents show she received a criminal conviction for hunting without a licence and was forced to forfeit the deer antlers.
She was fined $750 and ordered to pay $521 in court-related costs.
“Illegal hunting and irresponsible behaviour will not be tolerated. It is dangerous and can put people
and wildlife at risk,’’ Mr Stevens said.
“People who chose to hunt in Victoria need to make sure that they hold a game licence, are familiar with the laws and are not hunting deer illegally.”
Hunters and the public can report illegal hunting to the Game Management Authority via 136 186 or gma.vic.gov.au.