One Nation senator Rod Culleton has larceny conviction annulled

One Nation Party senator-elect Rod Culleton has had his outstanding conviction for larceny annulled.

Rod Culleton. Picture: Colin Murty.

One Nation Party senator-elect Rodney Culleton’s conviction for larceny has been annulled in court, clearing an obstacle from the West Australian’s road to parliament.

However Mr Culleton, 52, a farmer and anti-bank rural activist, faces a fresh hearing over his alleged theft of a tow-truck key during an attempt to stop the repossession of a vehicle at Guyra, northern NSW, in April 2014.

The political aspirant also faces a five-day trial in Perth for allegedly stealing a hire car being used by receivers from RSM Bird Cameron during a heated clash as they attempted to repossess a friend’s farm in WA last year.

The constitution disqualifies from parliament anyone convicted and under sentence, or awaiting sentence, for a crime punishable with at least a one-year jail term.

Armidale magistrate Michael Holmes annulled the larceny conviction, saying it was “in the interests of justice” that the matter receive “full ventilation” in court, the ABC reported.

Leaving court, Mr Culleton reportedly cried “what a ripper” and labelled the situation “a joke” before an adviser pulled him away from the media.

Mr Culleton used Facebook to criticise the magistrate and prosecutor involved in the case.

“The conviction has been annulled in Armidale today. This means it is as if there was NEVER A CONVICTION! The magistrate and the prosecutor GOT IT VERY WRONG! This is what is called political persecution,” he wrote.

Mr Holmes also referred to a “colourful letter” sent to the courthouse by Mr Culleton, which labelled his jurisdiction a “kangaroo court”, according to local newspaper The Northern Daily Leader.

Mr Culleton’s NSW case returns to court in September, where a further hearing date is expected to be fixed. Mr Culleton’s District Court appeal against the now-defunct conviction is expected to be withdrawn.

Mr Culleton is among four One Nation senators elected last month.