The alleged graffiti vandal behind “Pam the Bird” has pleaded not guilty to more than 200 offences and will fight the charges at trial.
Jack Gibson-Burrell, 22, faced Melbourne Magistrates Court in person on Monday 2 February, wearing red Crocs, when a magistrate decided to send his case to the County Court for trial.
He has been charged with 209 offences, including more than a dozen of reckless conduct endangering life or serious injury, criminal damage, theft and aggravated burglary.
Gibson-Burrell is accused of causing about $700,000 damage, including to heritage-listed Victorian landmarks where he allegedly sprayed the “Pam the Bird” tag.
This includes allegations he trespassed into Melbourne’s Flinders Street Station in July 2024, and abseiled up its famous clock tower, to paint the bird on it.
He is further accused of stopping a train in its tracks, encouraging two children to enter train tracks and raise their middle finger at the driver and passengers, and climbing up the disused Melbourne Star ferris wheel.
Gibson-Burrell also allegedly stabbed a man in West Footscray, punched a worker in the face at Emporium Melbourne, stole multiple cars in Torquay and ram-raided a Nando’s restaurant in Footscray.
Magistrate Michelle Mykytowycz remarked there were “simply too many” charges for her to detail them all in court on Monday.
The magistrate was satisfied the evidence in the prosecution’s brief was of sufficient weight for the matter to progress to a jury trial in the higher court.
“In relation to these charges, do you plead guilty or not guilty?” Ms Mykytowycz asked.
“Not guilty,” Gibson-Burrell replied, standing in the front row of court.
She ordered him to face the County Court for a directions hearing on March 3.
Gibson-Burrell was granted trial bail on the same terms and conditions, including that he is subjected to a $30,000 surety, a nightly curfew, cannot possess graffiti or abseiling equipment and must not travel interstate or overseas.
The accused vandal, who departed court dressed as Spider-Man last year, left the premises via a two-wheeled RipStik in front of dozens of media on Monday.
He declined to speak as he precariously travelled down Williams Street towards Flagstaff Station.
