WA FIFO worker denied bail over bizarre ‘Satans Spit’ prank in Bunnings
A former FIFO worker has been denied bail by a Perth judge ahead of his sentencing over a bizarre incident at a popular hardware store last year.
Paul Andrew Hart, 51, has pleaded guilty to one count of causing a poison to be administered after he dispersed a chilli and alcohol spray known as “Satans Spit” into a crowd of people at a Bunnings store on April 25.
Bunnings in Northam.
The court heard the incident caused burning eyes, noses and sore throats to 15 people, 11 of whom required treatment in hospital for their injuries. Two victims were children.
Hart previously told the court he had intended to release “fart spray” into the crowd to “lighten the mood” because he was “going through a rough time”, but claimed he inadvertently reached for the chilli spray instead.
The product is used on food and comes with an extreme heat warning, and is described as: “One of our hottest (and more dangerous) products, please handle with care!”
Satans Spit, used on food, comes with an extreme warning.
“Spray with caution as it can get travel through the air and get in eyes. You’ve been warned.”
The court was told at the time of the incident, shoppers were unaware of what they had been sprayed with so they were made to strip outside of hospital and forced to take decontamination showers.
Bunnings closed its doors for the day, causing a loss of $16,000 in income, while also paying thousands of dollars to eight affected employees in workers’ compensation claims.
