Activists admit trespassing at PM Scott Morrison’s private home
A writer and an artist who said they wanted to “sh*t” in Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s pool have faced court charged with trespassing at his home during a joke attempt to throw an open house party at his Sutherland Shire residence.
St George Shire Standard
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Two activists armed with cans of strawberry lime cider tried to throw an open house party at Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s private home in southern Sydney complete with cricket, beers and pool swims before trespassing into his backyard.
Dean Fletcher, 33, created a public Facebook event titled “Watch the test cricket at Scott’s” for January 3 at Prime Minister Morrison’s Dolans Bay home.
He and Caitlin Cooper, 18, then live-streamed themselves in several videos outside the Prime Minister’s home before trespassing into his backyard, prompting a concerned neighbour to call triple-0.
In a YouTube video after they were arrested, Fletcher said the pair were “waiting to shit in (the Prime Minister’s) pool”.
“We were waiting … for him to be like ‘oh, someone’s been to Engadine Maccas’, but that didn’t happen, he didn’t show up,” Fletcher said.
“ScoMo’s a no show.”
Police facts stated Cooper was one of 86 people who clicked attending on Fletcher’s event, with 187 others saying they were interested.
“The details of the event read ‘Scott has said we should just watch the cricket and ignore the bushfires, so let’s have a barbecue and pool party at his place’,” police facts stated.”
“BYO drinks once the house drinks run out, vegetarian and vegan options available.”
Neighbours saw Fletcher and Cooper drinking Little Fat Lamb strawberry lime cider on the Morrisons’ front fence around midday before they wandered up the driveway and into the backyard.
Police then arrived at the scene, arrested the pair and charged them both with trespassing.
Cooper pleaded guilty at Sutherland Local Court on Thursday and will face court again on March 5 after she seeks legal advice.
Fletcher was also charged with inciting a crime after he was seen on a Facebook live-streamed video inviting others to come and party at the Morrisons’ home.
The Wollongong man also pleaded guilty to both offences and will face Sutherland Local Court again on March 26 after he seeks a sentencing assessment report.
The Morrisons’ neighbour who called triple-0 heard Fletcher standing in the backyard of their home repeating the Dolans Bay address on one of his live-streamed videos.
“The first video was of Fletcher on the train, saying he was on his way to the Prime Minister’s house for a swim and some drinks and encouraging people to attend,” police facts stated.
“The following two videos were of Fletcher when he was standing at the front of the Prime Minister’s home.”
Magistrate Jayeann Carney warned Fletcher he faced a maximum penalty of six months behind bars.
“The trespassing is a fine-only offence, but this is a very serious offence in relation to being on the Prime Minister’s property here in the Sutherland Shire.”
In their YouTube video Fletcher also said Daily Mail Australia had incorrectly reported the circumstances of their pair’s arrest.
“ScoMo’s house remains unvandalised, despite what the Daily Mail has been reporting,” Fletcher said.
“They said we vandalised it.”
Neither Fletcher nor Cooper have been charged with any vandalism or property damage offences.