Neville Clifford Newman, who sent bullet during New England byelection, fined $2,000

Man who sent bullet to Barnaby Joyce's office given suspended prison sentence

A man has been fined but spared immediate jail after sending a bullet to the office of the former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce during the 2017 New England byelection.

Neville Clifford Newman, 74, previously pleaded guilty to one count of using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend and one charge of stalking or intimidation.

Magistrate Michael Holmes fined him $2,000 in Armidale local court on Monday.

He also jailed him for one year but suspended the term on condition Newman enter a good behaviour bond for the same period.

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The terms include undergoing counselling and taking part in anger management programs as directed by the local community corrections service.

The bullet and a note were sent in an envelope that was opened by a staff member in Joyce’s Tamworth electorate office in early November.

Joyce at the time said he was disappointed his six-week re-election campaign had been dogged by stalkers and threats.

“We’re now starting to see in Australia rather serious threats, and not just pretend threats – and that’s just an incredible disappointment for all of us,” he said.