Frankston ‘Karen’ anti-masker Mandy Crerar bailed after agreeing to wear a face mask in public
Mandy Crerar has been bailed after finally agreeing to wear a face mask. And a court has heard police and the community will be watching to make sure the Frankston ‘Karen’ abides by COVID-19 rules from now on.
South East
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Infamous Frankston ‘Karen’ Mandy Crerar has finally given up on her anti-authoritarian stance and agreed to wear a mask.
The 58-year-old was been granted bail on condition she guarantees she will wear a face covering in public and abide by all the Chief Health Officer’s COVID-19 directions.
On Thursday she appeared, wearing a perspex shield, to successfully apply for bail from the online court in a mammoth two-hour hearing.
Ms Crerar had spent over two weeks in custody at the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre because she refused to wear a face covering inside jail.
Now she has finally agreed to don a mask in public.
Ms Crerar has been charged with assault, affray and resisting emergency worker offences in relation to an alleged incident in Frankston on August 11.
She is accused of coughing on staff at Cafe Fleur by Jen after a staff member asked her to put a mask on.
But she allegedly refused, saying she was a “sovereign citizen” and “didn’t need to comply”.
She was offered a free mask but again allegedly refused to put it on, and allegedly screamed at and coughed on the worker before walking towards her car.
Police arrived and asked her for her details but she allegedly refused to give her name and address, was “hysterical and irrational” and resisted arrest, yelling “rape, rape” while allegedly striking out at officers.
She was arrested but continued to be uncooperative and refused to answer COVID-19 questions.
On Thursday Ms Crerar’s lawyer, Christopher Terry, said she was willing to comply with health directions.
Her partner, Andrew Lane told the court he would make sure she would wear a mask or shield when out in public.
Two days ago Magistrate Timothy Gattuso had refused to hear her application because she failed to appear in the media room of the prison.
Corrections staff said she wouldn’t put a mask on so they were unable to transfer her.
Mr Gattuso said this time she seemed to be abiding by the law, but warned her not to flout restrictions.
“We are in the grips of a pandemic that is killing people every day,” Mr Gattuso said.
“It is real, the virus doesn’t discriminate.
“Any breaches will not be tolerated; police will be checking up on you, if you leave the house without a mask or shield police will and should be called.”
Ms Crerar was granted release on bail for an inpatient mental health assessment order with conditions she abide by Chief Health Officer directions.
She is also not allowed to leave her home without a mask or shield, and must abide by a curfew.
A security deposit of $5000 has also been imposed.
She will face court again next April.
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