The elderly man who sent a bullet and a death threat to Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said it was the “biggest mistake of his life”.

Neville Newman, 74, fronted Armidale Local Court for the first time on Monday since he was charged by detectives in December. He pleaded guilty to one count of using a carriage service to harass and another of intimidation with the intent to cause physical harm.

Police tracked Newman down after he was captured on CCTV footage using a payphone in Armidale to call Mr Joyce’s parents on December 22.

Neville Newman, 74, sent Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce a bullet and death threats in 2017. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

He found the number in the telephone directory.