Second charge laid against Timaru woman who made false strawberry needle complaint

Police have laid a second charged against the woman who falsely reported a needle in a strawberry in Timaru.

The 28-year-old made the complaint about a contaminated punnet at Timaru's Pak'nSave earlier this week. All strawberries at the supermarket were pulled from shelves while police investigated.

It was found that the woman's claim was untrue and she was charged with making a false complaint on Wednesday.

On Thursday police also charged her with causing loss by deception.

"This is in connection with the significant quantity of strawberries that were destroyed as a result of this incident, reflecting the seriousness of the offending," said Detective Senior Sergeant Richard Quested.

She will appear on the second charge, as well as the existing false complaint charge, in the Timaru District Court on January 29.

It's the latest development in a trans-Tasman needle contamination crisis, which saw more than 100 needles found in strawberries across Australia.

young boy and a 50-year-old woman were arrested in relation to separate cases of needles found in Australian fruit.

On this side of the ditch, needles have been found in strawberries in Geraldine, Tauranga and Auckland.

Newshub.