NT anti-mandate protester Nickolas Nicolakis pleads to assaulting police

A Darwin dad has pleaded guilty to assaulting and hindering police during a violent anti-mandate ‘fracas’.

Capsicum spray showered over an anti-mandate crowd left a Darwin father-of-three feeling like bees were stinging his eyes.

Darwin Local Court heard that Nickolas Nicolakis had never been in trouble with police, had never been pepper sprayed and never stood next to people as they were arrested before he took part in a violent political demonstration on November 6.

On that day, Nicolakis found himself on the front line of a “fracas with police and protesters”, his barrister Peter Maley said.

On Tuesday, Nicolakis pleaded guilty to contravening an emergency declaration, assaulting and hindering police.

Nickolas Nicolakis pleaded guilty to assaulting and hindering a police officer and contravention of an emergency declaration.

Prosecutors agreed to withdraw the allegations that the 29-year-old took part in a riot.

Mr Maley said Nicolakis was not an anti-vaxxer but had strong political views on the Territory’s vaccine mandate.

“He is in favour of the vaccine, but opposed to the mandate requiring people have this,” Mr Maley said.

“He was motivated as such to the Freedom March.

“He went there somewhat naively, and it was emotional, it was upsetting.”

Mr Maley said Nicolakis shoved a senior constable and then hindered two other police officers trying to manage the angry crowd.

“Other people were certainly more actively involved in the fracas with police and protesters,” he said.

Nickolas Nicolakis leaves the Darwin Local Court

Mr Maley said officers sprayed a crowd of 20 people with capsicum spray.

He said to suppress the pain, Nicolakis poured water over his face, before throwing the quarter-full water bottle at officers.

“He did it out of absolute frustration,” he said.

“He was in pain. He said it felt like bee stings in his eyes.

“It was incredibly painful.

“It’s in his eyes and he stupidly threw the bottle.”

“You can see it glances off a police officer … effectively (it) bounces off their shoulder.”

Mr Maley said Nicolakis deeply regretted assaulting and hindering police.

“He said he can't believe he got mixed up in it in retrospect,” he said.

Mr Maley said the Darwin father-of-three had worked in concrete and construction his entire life but his employer was concerned about his future due to Defence contracts for Tindal and Robertson barracks.

“A conviction will affect his capacity to enter… to get on the base and do the concrete work,” Mr Maley said.

Judge David Woodroffe said there was clearly “deep regret” from Nicolakis, who he described as a hardworking, churchman, and father-of-three.

“I do see you’ve been inflamed by the activities … its unusual behaviour in pushing the first officer,” Mr Woodroffe said.

“It is clearly reprehensible behaviour which is totally unwarranted.”

Mr Woodroffe placed Nicolakis on a 12-month good-behaviour order with a $1000 bond and said a conviction would not be recorded.

“This is your one and only chance,” he warned.