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POST BOX PLUNDERER
Shocking moment neighbour catches Parish councillor next door stealing his mail
Joy Harbottle was caught after her neighbour set up a sting to find out who had been taking his letters in Kings Clipstone, Notts
THIS is the shocking moment a villager’s mail is stolen from his letter box – by his respected parish councillor neighbour.
Michael Umphray, 65, was puzzled as to why post seemed to have been going missing for weeks.
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So he set up a trap to capture the mystery thief taking letters from the black mailbox set on the wall outside his gated home.
But when he lay in wait to capture the culprit on film he was stunned to see grey-haired Joy Harbottle.
A 44-second video clip recorded on his phone captures the parish councillor – who sits on a safer neighbourhood committee – approaching his home shortly after a postman popped a letter into his postbox.
She can be seen looking around before lifting the mailbox lid and pulling out a large letter.
She then stuffs envelope under her grey T-shirt before walking off down the road in Kings Clipstone, Notts.
Mr Umphray said: "I was just shocked by what I saw, it speaks for itself. She came along 10 minutes after the postman had been.
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"We have never been that neighbourly, and she was never rude to us but I don't know why she would do this.
"We never approached her. We knew straight away that it was a police matter, although we didn't want to press charges because we have to live next door to her."
The police confirmed they had been called and had spoken to Cllr Harbottle.
But no further action has been taken by the cops.
And locals are now calling for her to step down from Kings Clipstone Village Council.
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Villager Keith Laver said: "She was there when I went to the last council meeting. Anybody else would have resigned with the shame!
"A lot of villagers are up in arms when they found out what happened.
"But there have been no consequences – she is still on the council!
"This person is meant to be representing us through the safer communities group. Her position is untenable.
"We are not accepting this and we are trying to go through the correct channels."
Cllr Harbottle initially refused to comment on the issue, but later said: "We all do stupid things, I did a stupid thing which I dearly regret and which I apologise for.
"This incident was resolved weeks ago with no further action being taken."
She did not provide any explanation for her actions.
But when asked if she would step down from her role on the council, she said she was "considering the future".
It was reported that a statement was requested from the council following the theft, but nothing has been received yet.
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