A 28-year-old man has been arrested and charged after allegedly making a series of offensive phone calls to multiple businesses in Bega, located on the New South Wales South Coast. Police allege that the individual used a public payphone to place threatening and sexually explicit calls, causing significant distress to local establishments.
Investigation and Arrest Details
Police initiated their investigation in February after two businesses in Bega reported receiving disturbing calls from a payphone. According to officers, the caller employed "threatening and sexually explicit" language during these incidents, prompting a swift response from authorities.
On Thursday afternoon, around 3 p.m., police received another report of similar calls being made from a payphone situated on Newtown Road. Officers responded immediately and allegedly chased a man from the scene before arresting him a short distance away. In a statement released on Friday, police described this as "a pattern of threatening behaviour directed at local businesses."
Charges and Legal Proceedings
The man was taken to Bega Police Station and charged with three counts of using a carriage service to menace, harass, or offend, as well as escape police custody. He was refused bail and appeared before the Bail Court on Friday, where he was formally denied bail once again.
He is scheduled to appear in Batemans Bay Local Court on Monday, April 20. The investigation remains ongoing, and police are urging anyone who may have received similar phone calls to come forward and contact them.
