Andrew Hockley was granted bail, charged with preventing a person to attend as a witness

A man arrested on serious criminal charges allegedly offered his estranged wife – who recorded their conversations – $20,000 to get the allegations dropped.

A man allegedly offered his estranged wife $20,000 to get court charges against him dropped.

Andrew Stuart Hockley, 45, applied for bail in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday, charged with preventing a person to attend as a witness.

A police prosecutor told the court Hockley was arrested in 2018 on serious criminal charges.

Hockley had since been found not guilty of the charges in a District Court trial.

The court heard Hockley’s now estranged wife had provided police with a statement in relation to the original charges.

“This witness started recording conversations between herself and the accused, namely one conversation that occurred in August 2020,” the police prosecutor said.

“In which, the accused stated ‘if you ring her (the original complainant) up and get her to drop the charges, I’ll give you $20,000 cash today’.”

The court heard Hockley also allegedly emailed his ex-wife with promises of money to get the charges dropped.

Hockley, of Christies Beach, is charged with preventing person from attending as a witness and inducing a witness to withhold or give false evidence.

He is yet to enter any pleas.

Andrew Hockley was granted bail in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday. Photo: Facebook

Taylor Johanson, for Hockley, told the court that Hockley and his ex stayed husband-and-wife until August, last year.

“There’s a suggestion of this offer of $20,000 and then another conversation,” she said.

“That conversation of Ms Hockley saying ‘you know I have nothing to do with her (the original complainant), I have no way of contacting her’.

“Mr Hockley then responded saying, ‘yeah, that was a stupid thing to say – don’t worry about it’.”

Ms Johanson told the court the second allegations of the email correspondence between the two only discussed their settlement, divorce and Hockley paying child support.

“He said once the trial is over, he may be in a position to pay child support – being that he may be able to return to work,” she said.

Ms Johansen said his parents could act as guarantors and offer a cash surety.

“He’s a full time stay at home father – he’s the primary caregiver,” she said.

“He has a very strong relationship with his family.”

Magistrate Elizabeth Sheppard granted Hockley bail.

She asked the prosecution to make inquiries with the alleged victim before the next court hearing about whether she had any fear of Hockley.

The charges were adjourned until June.