Scott Papworth Aberglasslyn shooting: Cops release CCTV of man in pub who may have information

Police say a man involved in a poker machine chat a few hours before convicted criminal Scott Papworth was shot in his driveway may have crucial information in relation to the shooting.

Police are asking for public assistance to locate a man who they believe might have important information in relation to the driveway shooting of convicted criminal Scott Papworth.

The man, described as being of caucasian appearance, with distinctive tattoos on his left arm, right hand and left leg, was seen in the pokie den of the Rutherford Hotel just hours before Papworth was shot.

Strike Force Pedvin investigators have sourced CCTV from the Rutherford Hotel just hours before Papworth was bashed and shot in the stomach on March 9 last year.

Strike Force Pedvin detectives are wishing to speak with this man, who was seen talking to others in the poker machine area inside the Rutherford hotel on the night of the shooting of Scott Papworth. Picture: NSW Police.

The images show several people talking in the pub’s poker machine room, and that of an unknown man entering the pub, as they plead with the public for information which could lead them to identifying the shooter.

Police have only described the man seen entering the hotel as someone they “wish to speak to as part of ongoing investigations”.

Strike Force Pedvin detectives are wishing to speak with this man, who was seen entering the Rutherford Hotel at 8.33pm on the night Scott Papworth was shot. Picture: NSW Police.

Two men have already been charged over the alleged assault on Papworth on the driveway of his Aberglasslyn home on Golden Whistler Drive about 10.45pm on that Tuesday night.

Detectives do not allege either of the charged men was the shooter.

Papworth was lucky to survive the shooting, with investigations revealing the motive was part of a growing spat between rival crime groups across the greater Maitland area.

Scott Papworth, who survived being shot on the driveway of his Aberglasslyn home. Picture: Supplied.

Papworth, who spent several days in a coma following the shooting and underwent at least one five-hour operation to remove parts of his bowel, has refused to co-operate with detectives.

He was splashed across the nation’s newspapers in 2014 when he physically and verbally abused two Muslim women during a drug-fuelled binge at Newcastle West.

He pleaded guilty to a range of offences, including stalking and intimidating the two women while they sat in the car.

Police set up a crime scene after Scott Papworth was shot on March 9 last year. Picture Amy Ziniak

Less than two years after the race-hate crime, Papworth was flown to Royal North Shore Hospital’s burns unit after being badly injured when he set his brother’s car alight.

The arson attack went awry when Papworth was badly burnt on his legs and arms and was listed as critical for several weeks as he fought for his life.

He was later charged with arson and received another six-month jail term in 2018.

Papworth, who has a long criminal history for violence, was released from jail in early 2019 and returned to the Maitland area.

Although he has refused to speak with investigators, police suspect the shooting was a direct result of simmering tensions within the criminal milieu of greater Maitland.

As well as the CCTV from the Rutherford Hotel, police have also released images of two shortened firearms seized by Strike Force Pedvin investigators, although they do not believe either firearm was the one used to shoot Papworth.

The man wanted for questioning is described as being of caucasian appearance, with distinctive tattoos on his left arm, right hand and left leg.

He was wearing a black T-shirt with printed logo on the front, green shorts, joggers and sunglasses.

Information should be forwarded to Raymond Terrace detectives or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Firearms seized by Strike Force Pedvin, established to investigate a feud between criminal groups which saw the shooting of Scott Papworth at Aberglasslyn

Firearms seized by Strike Force Pedvin, established to investigate a feud between criminal groups which saw the shooting of Scott Papworth at Aberglasslyn

As well as the CCTV from the Rutherford Hotel, police have also released images of two shortened firearms seized by Strike Force Pedvin investigators, although they do not believe either firearm was the one used to shoot Papworth.

The man wanted for questioning is described as being of caucasian appearance, with distinctive tattoos on his left arm, right hand and left leg.

He was wearing a black T-shirt with printed logo on the front, green shorts, joggers and sunglasses.

Information should be forwarded to Raymond Terrace detectives or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.