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Top politics journalist is charged with animal cruelty for allegedly kicking a dog outside a pub
- Financial reporter Aaron Patrick, 51, has been charged with animal cruelty
- He allegedly kicked a dog during ‘run-in’ with two men in Sydney late last year
- In a statement he said he was in fear for his safety and tried to protect himself
- Patrick will appear at Downing Centre Local Court on September 5
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A senior reporter for the Australian Financial Review has been charged with animal cruelty after he allegedly kicked a dog outside a pub.
Aaron Patrick, 51, said he was protecting himself after a ‘run-in’ with two men on Oxford Street in Darlinghurst, Sydney, on November 27 last year.
He intends to fight the single charge of animal cruelty when he appears at Downing Centre Local Court on September 5.
‘A plea of not guilty has been entered,’ the journalist told the Daily Telegraph on Tuesday.
‘I was fearful for my safety and sought to protect myself. The matter will be defended.’
Aaron Patrick (pictured), 51, a senior correspondent with the Australian Financial Review, has been charged with animal cruelty after he allegedly kicked a dog. He intends to fight the charge
Police confirmed in a statement that officers responded to reports a man had allegedly kicked a dog outside a venue on the busy nightlife strip at about 6:15pm.
‘The man was chased into a nearby business where he was detained by two men,’ police said.
‘Officers from Surry Hills Police Area Command attended and spoke with a 51-year-old man.
‘He was arrested and taken to Surry Hills Police Station where he was charged with commit an act of cruelty upon an animal.
‘The North Sydney man was given conditional bail.’
Aaron Patrick, 51, claims he was in danger after a ‘run in’ with two men on Oxford Street in Darlinghurst, Sydney (pictured), on November 27 last year
As well as writing about politics and business at the AFR’s Sydney newsroom, Patrick also wrote the book ‘Ego: Malcolm Turnbull and the Liberal Party’s Civil War’ which was released in June.
He has also published works on the previous Morrison government, the downfall of the Labor party after the Rudd-Gillard era and the unravelling of Tony Abbott’s government when Peta Credlin was his chief of staff.