Better known as the Mexican red-kneed tarantula, it can scare the living daylights out of arachnophobes with its ten-inch (25cm) leg span, distinctive dark brown body, large claws and those evil reddish-brown joints. Actually, it’s all show and not much go; unless you have an allergic reaction to spider venom, its bite is little worse than a bee sting. But you still wouldn’t want one delivered gift-wrapped to your desk.

Mahlon Hector was fortunate to escape a jail sentence at Leicester Magistrates’ Court yesterday when he admitted sending one to his immediate boss on the day he left his job at the Marks & Spencer store in the Fosse Park area of the city.

Susan Griffin, 46, Hector’s line manager, was shocked but not injured by the unsolicited gift, the court was told. The spider, an endangered species, was removed by the RSPCA. The formal charge of sending your boss a poisonous spider is “conveying a threatening communication”.

Richard Meadows, for the prosecution, told the court that Hector, 22, had bought it a few days before his notice period ran out, packaged it up and arranged for it to be delivered to Ms Griffin who, it was alleged, still suffers anxiety when asked to open a parcel, and has trouble sleeping.

Daniel Howe, mitigating, said that Hector had sent it as a practical joke after discussing the idea with colleagues during his final days in the job.

“Unfortunately he went farther than talking and decided to carry it out,” Mr Howe said.

For Hector, the joke turned out to be a bit of a damp squib. He had intended to be there when Ms Griffin opened her parcel, but was called to a meeting. He has not found other work since leaving M&S in March.

Mr Howe said: “He acted without thinking. This was a foolish, stupid thing to do, but he did not mean to cause any serious physical or psychological harm to the recipient. He has learnt his lesson,” Mr Howe said.

Ordering Hector to perform 200 hours of community work and to pay Ms Griffin £200 compensation, Barry Starbuck, the magistrate, told him that he had avoided a custodial sentence only because of his guilty plea and a number of good character references.

An RSPCA spokesman said: “They are not the most dangerous spider, but it could be fatal if it is given to someone who has an allergic reaction to it.”

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