Gosford: Anti-Covid lockdown protester Marta Clark applies to change guilty pleas

One of two elderly anti-lockdown protesters who allegedly went on a mask-free rant at officers in the foyer of Gosford Police Station at the peak of Covid has applied to change her pleas.

One of two women, who allegedly entered Gosford Police Station without wearing masks, before giving officers a lengthy rant on why there were no Australian laws forcing her to wear a mask or adhere to public health orders has applied to change her pleas.

Marta Clark, of Wamberal, appeared at Gosford Local Court on Thursday where she is facing three charges of not wearing a face covering inside a public building; hindering police and failing to comply with a Covid ministerial direction to not leave home unless it was for essential travel.

Police will allege in court the 71-year-old attended Gosford Police Station at 5.30pm on August 13 with a co-accused Veronica Briggs, 61, of Niagara Park.

Police will further allege Ms Clark read from a script claiming at length there were no laws in Australia or the constitution forcing her to wear a mask or adhere to stay-at-home orders while Briggs filmed her on a mobile phone.

Two Senior Constables tried to placate the women but when the duo refused to quit the officers threatened to issue them with infringements.

Police will allege the officers asked to see some form of identification but the pair allegedly continued to carry on to the point police arrested them.

It will be alleged neither woman had any identification on them and refused to tell police their names.

The pair entered the foyer of Gosford Police Station allegedly without masks and ranted to officers about Australian law. Photo: Google Maps

They were locked up for the night and went before a Local Court Registrar the following day who granted them bail after police were able to establish their identities.

Clark later faced Gosford Local Court where she pleaded guilty to not wearing a mask and hindering police but not guilty to breaching the stay-at-home direction.

However on Thursday Clark returned to court where she applied to have her two guilty pleas traversed.

A mask free Ms Clark leaving Gosford Local Court. Picture: NewsLocal

Magistrate Scott Nash granted her leave to apply and set the application down for hearing on December 23.

Briggs also faced court in August where she pleaded not guilty to the same three offences and it was set down for hearing on September 30.

However she never appeared and was convicted in her absence and fined a total of $1500.