A MAN who accosted Prime Minister Scott Morrison at the Bathurst 1000, calling him a [expletive] muppet, has been convicted and fined $500 for behaving in an offensive manner.
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Tasmanian man Allan Maccaul, 26, of Woorin Street in Berriedale, did not appear to answer the charges against him last week.
Police facts outlined how Maccaul, a scaffolder, was at Mount Panorama for the races on October 7.
Mr Morrison was also attending the races with his daughter and they were accompanied by police officers attached to the Protections Operations Unit.
The PM was conducting duties in relation to the opening of the Bathurst 1000 race when, at 10.30am, he walked from the rear of Garage 1 in Pit Lane.
He stopped to engage members of the public, shaking their hands and having his photograph taken.
While the PM was doing this, the accused approached him and started yelling at him: “[Expletive], you're a [expletive] muppet, you’re a [expletive] muppet.”
Protection Operations Unit officers approached the accused and introduced themselves and cautioned him in relation to his language.
Maccaul said “what?”
“That’s the premier [sic], he’s an [expletive] muppet,” he said.
Maccaul was placed under arrest and cautioned again and police conducting operational duties at Mount Panorama were called.
Maccaul was informed he would be searched and in his backpack police found a small plastic container containing cannabis leaf, to which he said “it’s just a bit of weed”.
“It’s just enough for a joint, I was going to smoke it while I watched the race.”
Police informed the accused he was now under arrest for drug possession.
Police continued the search through the accused’s backpack and located a small piece of foil within the front pouch. Inside this foil police located five tabs of LSD.
In addition to the offensive manner conviction, Maccaul was convicted on two counts of possess a prohibited drug and fined $400 on each.
