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Man charged for allegedly breaking into Optus Stadium, hooning on turf during Perth’s COVID-19 lockdown

The West Australian
VideoWATCH: New Snapchat footage has emerged of the Optus Stadium streaker and his friends laughing minutes before he ran onto the pitch.

A 29-year-old man has been charged after allegedly breaking into Optus Stadium on the first day of Perth’s five-day COVID-enforced lockdown last week.

The Secret Harbour man was charged with reckless driving, trespassing and criminal damage or destruction of property after driving into the premises and on the oval on February 1.

"It will be alleged that at around 11.30am the man drove a black Ford Ranger at speed through a boom gate and a shutter door at the stadium before driving recklessly on the oval," WA Police said.

The man was detained by staff until police arrived and arrested him.

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During the lockdown, Perth, Peel and South West residents were only permitted to leave their homes for essential reasons and one-hour of exercise per day.

The stadium is now reviewing its security management in light of the bizarre incident. The man is due to face Perth Magistrate’s Court on February 25.

It is understood the turf escaped the alleged incident without damage, despite the man’s vehicle driving on it, with Optus Stadium’s first match of the season set to take place in less than six weeks’ time.

The stadium already boasts a colourful history in its short three-year existence, with a vegan activist running on the field during the inaugural AFLW derby and a streaker trespassing during the Collingwood vs Geelong clash last year.

The man who took to the field during last year’s AFL match at Optus — which was played under quarantine conditions - was later identified as Jesse Hayen.

“A lot of the boys think it’s pretty funny and all that,” he said at the time.

“I guess it is pretty funny, but, yeah, na, I feel like a bit of a goose.

“I wasn’t aware of the COVID restrictions on the field when I did it.

“I was only notified after the fact. People run out on the field all the time. I did it. I’m probably going to be hit with a pretty hefty fine and some other things.”

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