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Parliamentary clerk who stalked boss claims he has delusional disorder Parliamentary clerk who stalked boss fined as judge rejects insanity claim
(35 minutes later)
A former deputy parliamentary clerk in Western Australia who carried a baseball bat and wore a disguise near his boss’s home may have had a delusional disorder, a court has heard. A former Western Australian deputy parliamentary clerk has been fined $2,300 but granted a spent conviction for carrying a bat and wearing a disguise near his boss’s home after a magistrate rejected his insanity claim.
Nigel Lake was wearing a hoodie when he was stopped by police near the City Beach home of his boss, Nigel Pratt, on 17 February last year.Nigel Lake was wearing a hoodie when he was stopped by police near the City Beach home of his boss, Nigel Pratt, on 17 February last year.
Lake then revealed the baseball bat and, when police ordered him to lay on the ground, they found he was wearing latex gloves and a rolled-up balaclava, the prosecutor, Darren Renton, told Perth magistrates court on Tuesday.Lake then revealed the baseball bat and, when police ordered him to lay on the ground, they found he was wearing latex gloves and a rolled-up balaclava, the prosecutor, Darren Renton, told Perth magistrates court on Tuesday.
Renton said Lake had identified himself as the deputy clerk of the Legislative Council and admitted he had been following his boss’s car because he believed Pratt was releasing confidential information. Lake had also attached a tracking device to Pratt’s car, Renton said.Renton said Lake had identified himself as the deputy clerk of the Legislative Council and admitted he had been following his boss’s car because he believed Pratt was releasing confidential information. Lake had also attached a tracking device to Pratt’s car, Renton said.
Lake does not dispute the facts but claims he was insane at the time.Lake does not dispute the facts but claims he was insane at the time.
The court heard Lake had been homelessafter separating from his wife and had been sleeping in his car and office until security found out. The court heard Lake had been homeless after separating from his wife and had been sleeping in his car and office until security found out.
Magistrate Michael Wheeler ruled on Tuesday that Lake was guilty, saying there was no evidence to suggest he did not know what he was doing.
“Eccentric behaviour is not equivalent to insane behaviour,” he said.
“I’m far from satisfied he was affected by delusions at the particular time and he’s still criminally responsible for the things he did.”
A psychiatrist for the defence, Paul Skerritt, saw Lake for one hour in August this year and testified that Lake thought he was being watched and there was a conspiracy going on.A psychiatrist for the defence, Paul Skerritt, saw Lake for one hour in August this year and testified that Lake thought he was being watched and there was a conspiracy going on.
Skerritt said Lake had been deluded into thinking he was doing the right thing and was acting under a false belief. “For him, it was entirely right and proper,” he said.Skerritt said Lake had been deluded into thinking he was doing the right thing and was acting under a false belief. “For him, it was entirely right and proper,” he said.
But another psychiatrist, Mark Hall, who saw Lake for three hours in April last year said that while Lake’s judgment was impaired and he had a mental health issue, he believed Lake was suffering a depressive disorder.But another psychiatrist, Mark Hall, who saw Lake for three hours in April last year said that while Lake’s judgment was impaired and he had a mental health issue, he believed Lake was suffering a depressive disorder.
Hall said people with depression usually felt disempowered and by carrying the baseball bat Lake would have felt more empowered.Hall said people with depression usually felt disempowered and by carrying the baseball bat Lake would have felt more empowered.
The magistrate was due to deliver his verdict later on Tuesday.The magistrate was due to deliver his verdict later on Tuesday.