A LAKE Macquarie man will face court charged with fraud and intimidation offences related to a fundraising scheme to help drought-stricken farmers. The Newcastle Herald reported in August that Shane Worrall had been collecting items as part of a Fill A Truck For a Farmer campaign. “We’re going to take it to their doorstep,” Mr Worrall said at the time. “The farmers I’ve spoken to haven’t had any relief whatsoever. They are the people I’m trying to get in contact with.” But this week the truck driver has hit a rough patch after he was arrested by Lake Macquarie police and charged with fraud and intimidation offences. Lake Macquarie police said they arrested a 36-year-old man in Fourth Street at Boolaroo “after he attempted to flee” on Friday morning. The man was taken to Belmont police station and charged with seven offences including dishonestly obtain property by deception, intimidation, intimidate police officer in execution of duty and resist officer in execution of duty. Police said the charges follow a donation event held at a park near Newcastle to raise money and collect goods. “Following the event, police will allege a member involved in the scheme attempted to speak to the organiser about the expenditure of funds and was intimidated,” NSW Police said in a statement. “It will also be alleged personal items were purchased with some of the money raised. “During the course of the investigation, a senior constable was allegedly harassed.” Earlier this week Mr Worrall took to social media, posting several videos of police. “My friends it gives me great displeasure to inform you that the remaining $15 thousand [sic] dollars that all of you gifted to me so I could gift to the farmers has been seized by the authorities,” he posted on November 7. “The account was red flagged on the 5th, two days ago.” Mr Worrall received conditional bail to appear at Belmont Local Court on Wednesday December 5. Investigations are ongoing, police said.
ARRESTED: Boolaroo truckie Shane Worrall in the lead-up to his collection at Speers Point Park in August. Mr Worrall has been charged with fraud and intimidation offences.
A LAKE Macquarie man will face court charged with fraud and intimidation offences related to a fundraising scheme to help drought-stricken farmers.
The Newcastle Herald reported in August that Shane Worrall had been collecting items as part of a Fill A Truck For a Farmer campaign.
“We’re going to take it to their doorstep,” Mr Worrall said at the time.
“The farmers I’ve spoken to haven’t had any relief whatsoever. They are the people I’m trying to get in contact with.”
But this week the truck driver has hit a rough patch after he was arrested by Lake Macquarie police and charged with fraud and intimidation offences.
Lake Macquarie police said they arrested a 36-year-old man in Fourth Street at Boolaroo “after he attempted to flee” on Friday morning.
The man was taken to Belmont police station and charged with seven offences including dishonestly obtain property by deception, intimidation, intimidate police officer in execution of duty and resist officer in execution of duty.
Police said the charges follow a donation event held at a park near Newcastle to raise money and collect goods.
“Following the event, police will allege a member involved in the scheme attempted to speak to the organiser about the expenditure of funds and was intimidated,” NSW Police said in a statement. “It will also be alleged personal items were purchased with some of the money raised.
“During the course of the investigation, a senior constable was allegedly harassed.”
Earlier this week Mr Worrall took to social media, posting several videos of police. “My friends it gives me great displeasure to inform you that the remaining $15 thousand [sic] dollars that all of you gifted to me so I could gift to the farmers has been seized by the authorities,” he posted on November 7.
“The account was red flagged on the 5th, two days ago.”
Mr Worrall received conditional bail to appear at Belmont Local Court on Wednesday December 5.
