Paul Masten, candidate for Lord Mayor of Darwin, in court over two alleged acts of violence on campaign trail

CONVICTED thief, struck off lawyer and failed Darwin mayoral candidate Paul Masten appeared in Darwin Local Court on Monday where four people lodged applications for personal violence restraining orders against him

CONVICTED thief, struck-off lawyer and failed Darwin mayoral candidate Paul Masten appeared in Darwin Local Court on Monday where four people lodged applications for personal violence restraining orders against him.

Paul Masten

The applications stem from two separate alleged incidents and Masten has filed a cross-application for a restraining order against fellow candidate Carol Phayer.

Masten, who stood both for mayor and Lyons Ward alderman at the weekend, was arrested Saturday for disorderly behaviour and going armed with an offensive weapon.

Chief Judge Dr John Lowndes ordered Masten and three of the applicants to see a mediator, while Ms Phayer will return to court on Thursday when Dr Lowndes will consider whether to grant her an interim order.

Ms Phayer said she was scared for her safety.

“It was the scariest thing I’ve ever been through,” she said.

“The police were wonderful in the way they handled it.”

Masten said Ms Phayer’s tears were “one of the best acting performances I’ve ever seen” and that there was no risk to Ms Phayer’s safety.

“Part of my bail conditions is not to approach her, so there’s a protection there,” he said.

Outside court, Masten said the charges against him were part of a “conspiracy” between Ms Phayer and the CLP to stop him being elected.

He said his mother “would have had a heart attack” if she saw him described in print as a “convicted thief” and “banned lawyer”.

When asked if it was true, he said, “Well, not quite, yes they are true factually but that’s an incident that happened over 10 years ago.”

Masten said the criminal charges he would face in September would be defended.