Paul Andrew Hart: Bunnings pepper spray assailant also had ‘fart spray’ and was trying to cheer up his friend

A man who sprayed a chilli substance called “Satan’s Spit” inside a WA Bunnings, sending almost a dozen people to hospital, was just trying to cheer up a glum friend, a court has been told. The details emerged at a bail application on Wednesday for FIFO worker Paul Andrew Hart, who appeared via videolink from Acacia Prison. The court was told that on the afternoon of April 25 last year, the 51-year-old went to the Northam store and deployed the spray “to lighten the mood and entertain a companion . . . who was going through rough times”. The product contains a blend of alcohol and chilli extract, and Judge Nicholas Egan read out the label. “This is one of our hottest (and more dangerous) products, please handle with care. Spray with caution as it can get travel through the air and get in eyes. You’ve been warned,” he read. Hart had a bottle of “fart spray” in his pocket but not deployed. The prank caused 15 people in the store to cough and suffer burning pain to their eyes and nose, triggering an emergency response including paramedics and police. Two of the victims were children aged under 16, Judge Egan said, and 11 people who were rushed to hospital by ambulance were made to strip off and take decontamination showers. They were each charged more than $1000 in ambulance fees. The store was temporarily closed amid fears there had been a contaminant spill, causing some $16,000 in lost earnings and requiring the business to pay more than $3000 in workers compensation to staff. Hart was arrested at his home and charged with causing poison to be administered, a charge that in circumstances of aggravation, carries a maximum term of five years behind bars. He pleaded guilty in January. But in the meantime while on bail, he committed three offences - making threats to his former partner, and also a prosecutor and judicial officer - and was jailed for nine months. He spent a further 40 days behind bars, which Judge Egan said would count towards any further jail term. Hart’s defence counsel said his client should be bailed ahead of a sentencing mention on March 21, saying the spray was used as a food product so he “had some confidence the impact would be short term”. He had not gone out of his way to hurt anyone, so had not been malicious, just reckless, the lawyer said. But counsel for the State argued he was a flight risk, for reasons including him having an outstanding arrest warrant in Queensland dating back to 1995. Hart reported being surprised to hear about that, saying he had received national police clearance multiple times over the past 30 years. The court was also told that Hart was recorded saying on a phone call from prison: “I want to get out of the west. I’m finished over here”. Judge Egan ruled that no condition could be imposed that would assuage the risks of Hart not attending court were he to be released on bail.