Drinker fires taser in bar

Man pleads guilty to multiple charges

A HEAVY drinker who fired off a taser multiple times in his local public bar – twice at the publican who tried to remove him – has been released on bail after spending six months in prison on remand.

Magistrate Leanne Topfer heard Jamie Craig Campbell, 44, was drinking at Bushranger’s Hotel in Wynyard in March last year when he held up a taser stun device and activated it.

Patrons reported hearing the taser crackle. The court heard Campbell then pointed the device at another drinker in an aggressive manner.

The publican started escorting Campbell out of the pub when the regular drinker again activated the taser as he resisted being thrown out,

The publican had him by the arm but Campbell managed to activate it again and thrust it at the hotel owner but failed to make contact.

Campbell left the pub and a subsequent search of his father’s house located the device and capsicum spray.

Campbell told police he did not know tasers were prohibited items “because you could order them online”.

In the Burnie Magistrate’s

Court on Tuesday, Campbell pleaded guilty to a raft of charges including common assault, possessing a prohibited import, drink drinking and unlicensed driving offences.

He also pleaded guilty to six counts of breaching a family violence order. These offences occurred in February this year and relate to his former partner of 10 years.

The court was told Campbell was harassing his former partner, driving slowly past her house, past her workplace and sent 273 text messages and voicemails to her over a short period. The court was told the victim was anxious and had trouble sleeping at the time of the offending.

Campbell was arrested and remanded in custody in February. His defence counsel said Campbell had a history of misusing alcohol – especially after health issues stopped him working.

Magistrate Topfer released Campbell, who appeared via video link from Risdon Prison dressed in full PPE gear, on bail to reappear in court on August 29 for sentence.

“You have spent long enough in prison,” she said.

The family violence order will remain in place until February next year.