A father of three, Paul Andrew Hart, has received a 16-month prison sentence after releasing a chilli-based substance known as Satin’s Spit in a Bunnings store in Northam, Western Australia, during a busy ANZAC Day. Hart, 52, claimed that he was attempting to execute a “fart prank” when he inadvertently sprayed the substance, which caused panic among shoppers.
The incident unfolded as Hart walked past a mother and her daughter, leading them to cough violently moments later. As he continued to move through the store, several customers were affected, struggling to breathe and forced to cover their eyes. The situation escalated quickly, resulting in the evacuation of the store and the necessity for several victims to be transported to hospital. There, they underwent decontamination procedures that involved outdoor showers, leaving many feeling exposed and embarrassed. One customer described the ordeal as terrifying, stating that they thought they were “going to die” and experienced tightness in their lungs while gasping for air.
Bunnings was compelled to close its doors for the day, suffering an estimated loss of $16,000 in revenue due to the incident. During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Hart had woken up from distressing dreams and spent the morning consuming alcohol. He insisted that it was never his intention to cause harm and mistakenly grabbed the wrong can, which was meant to be a harmless “fart spray”.
The court condemned Hart’s actions, emphasising the severe disruption and distress caused to unsuspecting customers. He has been sentenced to 16 months in prison but will be eligible for parole later this year.