Divvie van man says he can’t remember capsicum spray night

A “very intoxicated” man who was placed in a divisional van by police just before Christmas says he can’t recall that night – despite being handcuffed, having a spit mask attached and being subdued with capsicum spray.

A FINGAL man says he has no memory of the night he was capsicum-sprayed in a police divisional van, wearing handcuffs and a spit mask after leaving a Christmas party in a “very intoxicated” state.

Daniel Gregory Campbell says he doesn’t “remember anything” of the December 20 event, but says he now suffers “night terrors of rolling around in a van”.

The Hobart Magistrates Court was told on January 28 police were transporting Campbell to the Hobart Remand Centre about 9pm that night when they opened the van, finding him covered in vomit and urine, kicking the inside walls of the van.

Campbell then made a threat to police – although the details of the threat weren’t disclosed in court – before police deployed capsicum spray.

He pleaded guilty on Tuesday to one count of threatening a police officer.

Campbell told Magistrate Reg Marron he recalled leaving the Margate party and being unable to phone a taxi, as he didn’t have his mobile phone.

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He said he believed he had been concussed, telling Mr Marron he’d been bruised “head to toe” with wounds to his head, eyes and knees – meaning he was no longer able to work as a concreter.

“I’ve got to plead guilty because of the fact I’ve got no memory,” he said.

Mr Marron offered Campbell the opportunity to plead not guilty and view police body-worn camera footage, but he declined.

Campbell escaped conviction but was fined $200 and charged $68.04 in court costs.

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