The person who wrote the letter at the centre of a blackmail trial has told a district court he never intended the anonymous message to be a threat.
Former Bathurst mayor Robert 'Bobby' Bourke is on trial for his role in the alleged blackmail attempt of former councillor Jacqui Rudge in 2020.
Mr Bourke has pleaded not guilty to misconduct in public office and blackmail with intent to influence public duty.
The Crown prosecution argues that the letter, written by Bathurst businessman Darryl Leahey, threatened to reveal Ms Rudge's mental health issues unless she resigned from the council.
The prosecution alleges its delivery was facilitated by Mr Bourke.
"We recommend you stand down and seek professional help," the letter, which was tendered to the court as evidence, read.
"Written in confidence however if not acted on in the next 7 days this will be made public".
Mr Leahey today told the Orange District Court he wrote the letter because he wanted Ms Rudge to seek help.
"At no stage did I think anything was a threat," he said.
"I'm remorseful for what it's caused."
Court hears from volunteers
Mr Leahey spoke about how he was the campaign manager for Mr Bourke and Ms Rudge when they ran for the council on the same ticket.
He felt responsible when Ms Rudge's actions on the council did not represent the "values" of the ticket she was elected on, the court heard.
"I felt we had an obligation to do the right thing by the community," he said.
"I had no idea this could lead to what it has."
The court also heard from two volunteers at the council-owned opportunity shop that Mr Bourke managed about how they were involved in sending the letter.
Moira Catherine Spinazza spoke about how Mr Bourke drove her in the mayoral car to the newsagent and asked her to buy a pre-stamped envelope.
Ms Spinazza said she did not think anything of it at the time but became concerned once the alleged blackmail came to light through the local paper.
"I was concerned because I bought the envelope, I might have bought that particular envelope," she said.
Christopher Hosa, another volunteer at the op shop, told the court Mr Bourke asked him to write Ms Rudge's name and address on the envelope and drove him to the mailbox to post it on their way to the pub.
Mr Hosa told the court he became concerned once he saw the story from the local paper.
"If that is the letter it had my fingerprints on it," he said.
Mr Hosa eventually contacted Ms Rudge through Facebook to tell her what had happened.
The trial continues.
