Man fined for COVID threats

A Pemberton man has pleaded guilty in Manjimup Magistrates court to disorderly behaviour in public after making coronavirus threats to police and staff at Pemberton Hospital.

The court was told that about 5pm on April 11, Thomas Harry Smith, 39, was involved in traffic crash and was transported to Pemberton hospital, where he attempted to touch staff and police officers with his bloodied hands and repeatedly made threats about having coronavirus including saying “You’ll pay for this c..ts, I have coronavirus.”

In court Magistrate Michelle Pontifex said he was very lucky to have not been charged with more serious offences and handed the accused a $2000 fine after he entered an endorsed plea of guilty.

The maximum penalty for a disorderly behaviour in public offence is a fine of up to $6000.

State Parliament passed laws in April allowing for sentences of up to seven years for making coronavirus threats to police officers, doctors and nurses.

Sgt Anne Morris from the Pemberton Police station said making COVID-19 threats was serious and would be dealt with appropriately by police.