Andrew Hockley offered witness $20,000 over serious criminal charge

A man stressed about an upcoming trial over a serious criminal charge made a “extremely foolish” decision to offer a witness – who recorded their conversation – a significant bribe to make it go away.

A man arrested on a serious criminal charge offered a woman – who recorded their conversation – $20,000 to get the allegations dropped.

Andrew Stuart Hockley, 46, faced sentencing submissions in the District Court on Monday before it was adjourned for a psychological report to be ordered.

Amalie Tabuteau, for prosecution, told the court in July, Hockley was arrested in 2018 in relation to a serious criminal charge.

The court heard he met with the witness on August 7, 2020, and they had a conversation which was recorded.

Ms Tabuteau said an hour into the conversation Hockley brought up the bribe.

Andrew Hockley pleaded guilty to offering benefit to a person for a witness not to attend. Photo: Facebook

Andrew Hockley offered a witness a $20,000 bribe over the charges. Photo: Facebook

“Anyway the negotiation I was going to come up with … is that if you ring up (the alleged victim) and get her to drop the charges, I will give you $20,000 cash today,” Hockley said.

“I see a piece of paper that says ‘charges are dropped’ you will be rewarded for it.”

When the woman replied he didn’t have any money, Hockley said: “I can get money, my family will give me anything to get those things taken away from me. They know how much I don’t deserve it”.

Ms Tabuteau said it was evident it wasn’t a spur of the moment decision and Hockley intended to follow through.

The court heard Hockley faced trial on the serious criminal charge in March 2021 and he was acquitted.

Hockley, of Christies Beach, pleaded guilty to offering benefit to a person for a witness not to attend.

Andrew Ey, for Hockley, said he accepted he was contemplating paying the witness to get rid of the charges, as it had been a “particularly stressful” period for him.

The court heard Hockley was the primary caregiver of his young daughter and previous bail conditions meant he couldn’t look after her without supervision.

“This was a conversation that took place at the end of a rather emotionally charged conversation,” Mr Ey said.

“He’s come to some thoughts, he accepts extremely foolish, that he could pay the complainant to make this all go away rather than going through the stress of the trial.”

Mr Ey said Hockley was extremely sorry for the offending and made a “grave error”.

Hockley will next face court in February.