Far-right activist faces court over Toll uniform

A far-right activist who ambushed Sam Dastyari while wearing his former work uniform didn’t return the shirt because of petrol costs, a court has heard.

Far-right activist Neil Erikson threw his former Toll uniform away instead of returning it to the company because he wasn’t prepared to spend petrol money to go to the city, a court has heard.

Mr Erikson appeared before the Federal Circuit Court this morning to respond to claims he breached court orders to return the Toll uniform.

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Toll initiated legal action against Mr Erikson after a video was circulated of him wearing Toll-branded clothing with others calling former senator Sam Dastyari a “terrorist” at a Melbourne pub and asking about Chinese money.

Judge Suzanne Jones made orders for Mr Erikson to return Toll items and not publish images which falsely imply someone works for the company.

Lawyers for Toll said Mr Erikson knew since August that the company wanted its uniform back.

“The uniforms no use to Toll, they can’t reuse it,” Mr Erikson said.

“I don’t see what Toll would need the uniforms for.”

He told the court he had lost and discarded items of uniform since he first started working for Toll and he threw his remaining items out last year instead of returning them to the company because he wasn’t prepared to pay for petrol money to go to the city.

Ricky Turner, a friend of Mr Erikson’s, was pictured in the media wearing a Toll shirt at a demonstration over Milo Yiannopoulos in December.

Far-right activist Neil Erikson, right, leaves the Federal Court in Melbourne. Picture: AAP

Mr Erikson denied giving the shirt to Mr Turner and told the court he couldn’t ask his friend to give evidence in support as it would be a breach of his bail conditions prohibiting contact between the pair.

Mr Erikson was charged with assault, affray and riotous behaviour over the December 4 incident.