Alleged polo interloper faces court

A man who allegedly drove a 4WD into a marquee on Cable Beach when beach polo was in full swing must remain in maximum security at Graylands Hospital for at least another month after he was declared unfit to plead to charges.

The man faces three charges in relation to the incident on May 14, including wilfully damaging property, driving a vehicle when not being legally entitled to do so and endangering lives.

He is alleged to have dramatically disrupted the polo’s semifinals when he drove erratically across the playing field on the beach, narrowly missing picnicking families and spectators, before crashing through the VIP tent. Appearing in Broome Magistrate’s Court via videolink on Monday morning, he asked to be released from the Frankland Centre – a maximum-security psychiatric wing at Graylands Hospital.

However, Magistrate Colin Roberts said he would be released until he received the treatment he needed.