The Mango Inquirer, Shannon Joyce, pleads guilty to assaulting market stallholder

A Darwin social media influencer has livestreamed his red carpet arrival for a court date in which he pleaded guilty to assaulting a market stallholder.

A DARWIN social media influencer has livestreamed his red carpet arrival for a court date in which he pleaded guilty to assaulting a market stallholder.

Shannon Joyce, who runs the Mango Inquirer Facebook page, was handed a 12-month good behaviour with a $1000 security and a $150 victim assistance levy after pleading guilty to assault.

The assault took place on March 26 when Joyce went live on his Facebook page, which calls itself “an edgy internet news source for stories missed by the mainstream Northern Territory media”.

In the video he filmed himself speaking to a Parap market stallholder, who had allegedly called Joyce a paedophile on Facebook.

Joyce then threw white powder in the direction the victim shouting “anthrax, anthrax” causing concern.

Shannon Joyce, The Mango Inquirer, pleaded guilty to assaulting a market stallholder.

Following inquiries he later confirmed the white powder was self-raising flour and not anthrax.

Joyce once again took to livestreaming himself for his court arrival where he arrived at the Darwin Local Court in a hired limo.

However, a slight breeze meant his chauffeur was unable to roll out a red carpet as apparently planned.

In the courtroom he was joined by his ex-partner, his two children and a supporter of his page, none of which arrived in the limo.

Joyce’s lawyer Luke McLaughlin said Joyce was remorseful following the incident and was normally a man of good character.

“He’s a man that works with the Salvation Army, the homeless and downtrodden and is man of good character,” Mr McLaughlin said.

“This was obviously a stupid act done in broad daylight around the markets and it should not have happened.

“He understands what he did was wrong, is reflecting on that and is remorseful.”

Judge Alan Woodcock called the act uncivilised but considered Joyce’s previous good character when handing him a good behaviour bond.

“He has a background in disability support, he’s a mentor and works in the sphere of assisting homeless people,” Mr Woodcock said.

“Of course none of that assists his victim, who he told he was throwing anthrax on live on the internet, which was uncivilised and ill-considered.

“But it’s out of character and this is an early plea made by a man who appears to be of good character.”

Joyce departed court on foot, with no red carpet or limo in sight.