Jarome Brooks-West allegedly raided opal mine, attacked two brothers

A magistrate gasped about the ‘absolutely shocking’ allegations levelled at a young man who police say broke into a famous opal mine in NSW’s northwest to attack two brothers.

The alleged incident occurred at Lunatic Hill near Lightning Ridge. Picture: Sally Macmillan

A young man charged with an “absolutely shocking” dusk attack of two opal mine workers at Lunatic Hill in the NSW’s northwest was arrested on Wednesday after failing to show up to court earlier this year.

Jarome Brooks-West, 21, is facing a string of charges following the alleged incident near Lightning Ridge in August, last year, including being armed with the intent to commit and indictable offence, assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company, destroying or damaging property, entering land with the intention of committing an indictable offence, entering a mineral claim held by an other and failing to appear in accordance with bail.

Lunatic Hill was put on the map in 1986 when Halley’s comet — largest uncut black opal in the world — was unearthed with the precious gemstone last sold in 2006 for $1.2m.

The mine is situated on Three Mile Rd where Mr Brooks-West was living with his father at the time of the alleged invasion.

Documents tendered in court said two opal mining brothers were camped out at the mine when Mr Brooks-West, Patrick Moore, 23, and an unconfirmed woman pulled up at the mine site in a Toyota Hilux about 6.30pm on Sunday, August 29, 2021.

There was a verbal altercation between Moore and one of the alleged victims, with the court documents indicating the woman allegedly handed Mr Brooks-West a double-edged blade.

The Halley‘s comet opal was unearthed at the Lunatic Hill open cut mine.

Mr Brooks-West allegedly began rushing towards one of the men who grabbed a nearby crowbar, with the two men swinging their respective weapons at each other.

The court documents detail how Mr Brooks-West allegedly picked up rocks and hurled them at the man who retreated into a shed on the site.

The skirmish led to the alleged victim tripping, ditching the crowbar and smashing the bottom of a VB long neck to arm himself with.

Mr Brooks-West allegedly threw a removal trolley at the man, hitting him in the shoulder, before swinging the knife at him again.

The court documents said while this was taking place, the other brother was trying to protect himself from Moore who was allegedly hunting him down with a tyre iron.

It is alleged the trio fled the scene after the woman yelled “You need to leave town”.

Jarome Brooks-West allegedly swung a knife multiple times at one of the opal mine workers. Picture: Facebook

After the alleged assailants left, the brothers noticed the windows of their car had been smashed.

They called emergency services after one of them experienced pain in their shoulder and neck, and from a cut to his hand which he believed to from the alleged knife attack.

Paramedics rushed the alleged victim to Lightning Ridge Hospital for treatment while police collected evidence at the scene.

The following morning, police spotted Mr Brooks-West near the Lightning Ridge town centre where he was placed under arrest.

The court documents said he allegedly told police he did not have “any knowledge of the incident”, adding he was “home all night” with the woman police believe - but cannot confirm - was present at the attack.

Lunatic Hill open cut opal mine. Picture: Johno's Opals

Mr Brooks-West also allegedly told police the two brothers had “harassed” him while he was walking home, but indicated he did not have the “motivation” to seek “retribution”.

The accused man was listed to appear in Lightning Ridge Local Court in August, 2022 but after he was a no-show, he was convicted in his absence with a warrant issued for his arrest.

More than 10 weeks after the warrant was issued, Mr Brooks-West handed himself into Wollongong Police Station where he was taken into custody.

Jarome Brooks-West appeared in Wollongong Local Court via video link.

Mr Brooks-West applied for bail in Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday with Magistrate Gabriel Fleming gasping “wow” and ”absolutely shocking” as she read through the allegations.

Defence lawyer Matt Kwan told the court Mr Brooks-West was absent from court because he was “interstate at the time and lost contact with his solicitors because he didn‘t have a phone”.

Mr Kwan highlighted Mr Brooks-West’s lack of criminal record and his intention to apply to overturn the conviction as he maintained his innocence.

Ms Fleming told Mr Brooks-West the “best decision you made was presenting to the police station” before granting him bail to live with his grandfather in Berkeley.

Mr Brooks-West was ordered to report to Lake Illawarra Command every Monday, Wednesday and Friday and was barred from entering Lightning Ridge except for his next court appearance on November 17.

Moore was sentenced in Walgett Local Court in May after pleading guilty to being armed with the intent to commit an indictable offence.

Charges of common assault, destroying or damaging property, entering land with the intention of committing an indictable offence, entering a mineral claim held by another and aggravated entering a dwelling were withdrawn and dismissed.

Moore was convicted and ordered to pay a $1000 fine.