Paul William Chesworth faces Ballina Local Court charged with sparking siege,lengthy police op at Wollongbar on North Coast
The first images have emerged of the “engineer” charged with sparking a lengthy siege on the North Coast, which shut down schools and roads, including a major highway. Here’s the latest.
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The first images have emerged of an “engineer” charged with sparking a six-hour siege on the North Coast, which allegedly involved him threatening to use explosives and rigging an electric shock trap.
Police allege in court documents Paul William Chesworth, 45, has a “bomb-making hobby”, which resulted in lockdowns and highway closures at Wollongbar on November 23.
Chesworth has been hit with a raft of charges after a siege at a home on the Bruxner Highway, following a concern for welfare report made to police.
They went to the property about 9am and an operation, which resulted in education facility lockdowns and various road closures, ended about 2pm.
It was reported in late November, when Chesworth faced Byron Bay Local Court, that he allegedly possessed and placed an “antipersonnel device designed to administer an electric shock on contact”
It’s alleged to have been an “improvised device capable of emitting an electrical charge connected to a door knob”, according to court documents.
Chesworth, who court documents state is from Mcleans Ridges, allegedly put a sign up encouraging visitors to “press doorbell”.
On Chesworth’s public Facebook page, he states his favourite saying is: “Go f--k yourself.”
The mostly mundane page states he is a single tradesman with links to the Gold Coast and Brisbane.
One post states: “Lovely Father’s Day out … and I must say I’m not gonna get father (of the year) this year. I will not be at next year either and I can work on that.”
Chesworth faced Ballina Local Court over audiovisual link on Thursday.
He has been charged with using a carriage service to make a hoax threat, as well as giving false information about a person/property in danger and possessing a prohibited drug – oxycodone.
Chesworth has also been accused of possessing or using a prohibited weapon without a permit and placing or setting a trap with the intention of causing grievous bodily harm.
No pleas have been entered.
In court, Chesworth said: “The police have taken my phone, I need to urgently speak to a family member.”
Defence lawyer Rodney David Behan told Chesworth he would speak to prison authorities to try get him a phone call.
Chesworth has not entered pleas to breaching an apprehended violence order, related to a separate alleged incident. He has pleaded not guilty to a charge of reckless wounding company relating to an incident in which he allegedly inflicted a large wound on a man’s cheek.
Chesworth was taken to Lismore Base Hospital after his arrest, undergoing mental health assessment.
His case has been adjourned to December 21.
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