A man has pleaded guilty to sending a bullet to Barnaby Joyce’s electorate office during the New England byelection.

Neville Newman, 74, entered the plea in Armidale local court on Monday after he was charged with one count of using a carriage service to menace, harass and/or offend and one count of stalking/intimidation.

The bullet was sent in an envelope that was opened by a staff member in the Tamworth electorate office in early November last year, New South Wales police have previously said.

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. “It’s not something I thought we’d ever have to deal with in our nation.”

Newman is expected to be sentenced at the same court on 23 April.

The 74-year-old will remain on bail on the condition he does not contact any state or federal MPs or their associates.

