Paul Christopher Campbell jailed after Raes on Wategos hotel break-in
A man jailed over the theft of knives and shellfish – which go for a pretty penny on the menu – from an exclusive Byron hotel says he only wanted to have a luxury meal overlooking Wategos Beach.
Police & Courts
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A man who broke into an uber-exclusive Byron Bay hotel and stole knives and shellfish – which go for a pretty penny on the menu – says he only wanted to have a luxury meal overlooking the pristine Wategos Beach.
And it looks like his time in custody wasn’t exactly planned for dessert.
Paul Christopher Campbell, 41, of Byron Bay, was sentenced to two months jail over the March 13 break-in of Byron Bay luxury hotel, Raes on Wategos, and a string of unrelated driving offences.
Campbell’s bizarre crime and subsequent arrest emulated scenes from the 1991 arrest of a man outside a Brisbane restaurant, who exclaimed to police in a now-viral video he was being detained for simply wanting a “succulent Chinese meal”.
As the cops cuff the man, he screams “this is democracy manifest” and “get your hands off my pe**s”. He then says to an officer over an attempted headlock “I see that you know your judo well”.
Campbell’s charges included break and entering, stealing, driving while suspended, driving an unregistered car, driving an uninsured car, using a car on the road without paying tax and hindering police.
Police facts state Campbell entered Raes through an unlocked cellar bar door at about 3.30am on March 13.
“While at the property he stole a bag of shellfish and (four) knives, which was the property of Raes on Wategos, owned by Antony Catalano,” police facts state.
The “prawns” described in police documents were actually the hotel’s “world-class lobster tails”, a source connected to Raes told The Daily Telegraph.
The “world-class lobster tails”, formulate part of Raes signature three-course A-la-carte menu, which totals $115 per person, excluding drinks.
A variation on the restaurant’s current lobster tail dish, Australian Bay Lobster glazed in fermented chilli, hand-rolled fregola pasta, corn and native spiced curry butter, was reviewed in 2020 by The Australian’s former feared yet revered chief food critic, John Lethlean.
“He also helped himself to some Japanese whiskey that he drank and put back with the label facing forward – definitely ex-hospo,” the source said.
CCTV shows Campbell brazenly flipping off cameras as he made himself a meal, before an employee called police.
Officers found four knives and the pack of lobster tails under Campbell’s jacket on a bench outside the hotel, court documents state.
The knives were returned to Raes on Wategos and the lobster tails were photographed before being thrown away by police – without compensation being sought.
A few hours later police saw Campbell getting into a nearby car and upon being arrested, he pushed officers away screaming “f--- off” and was sprayed twice with capsicum spray.
He was taken to Byron Bay Police Station, where checks on his car revealed it was unregistered and uninsured.
Defence Lawyer Natasha Wood said the offending was “opportunistic” rather than being planned.
“During the offending Campbell was experiencing paranoia, he thought the police would kill him but he doesn’t think that anymore,” she said.
“CCTV footage shows him looking at the camera making himself known to the authorities, so people would know his last known location if he disappeared.
“His intention was to cook the lobster tails to eat on the beach as he was homeless at the time.”
Ms Wood said Campbell was scared for his safety in prison as he experienced sexual harassment from other inmates and had to be transferred to another area.
He is receiving a disability pension and has poor mental health, Ms Wood said.
Campbell was sentenced last Monday over videolink from prison, where he had already served two months in pre-sentence custody.
Magistrate Karen Stafford said Raes on Wategos was a hotel where well-heeled guests deserved the safety and security of staying overnight.
“People pay a lot of money to stay there, it surprises me the distillery door was unlocked,” she said.
“Campbell stole four kitchen knives at the high end restaurant’s kitchen, they would have been sharp and high quality.”
Ms Stafford said while the lobster tail theft wasn’t too concerning, Campbell wrestled police during his arrest and had an extensive criminal history.
He was sentenced to two months imprisonment which was back dated to March 13 and a conviction was recorded.
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