Martin Clark Crawford: Kalbarri accused pleads not guilty to stalking traveller and smashing car with axe

A Kalbarri man has denied allegations he stalked an itinerant traveller and attacked him in his vehicle with an axe earlier this year. Martin Clark Crawford, 59, pleaded not guilty to with intent to harm did an act causing bodily harm, criminal damage and reckless driving in the Geraldton Magistrates Court on Monday. He indicated he would plead guilty to two counts of breaching a misconduct restraining order. The charges relate to an incident on February 23, when Mr Crawford is accused of following Samuel Entwistle several kilometres on North West Coastal Highway in Ajana, about 40 minutes from Northampton. The court was previously told Mr Entwistle turned on to Murphy Road and pulled over after noticing he was being followed. Police said Mr Crawford stopped behind him and launched an axe attack on the driver, telling him to “get the f... out of the car” before smashing the driver’s side window. Mr Entwistle drove away with minor injuries, but Mr Crawford allegedly followed him and rammed his car from behind. The accused man is due to appear in Kalbarri Magistrates Court on August 21, where a date will be set for both trial and sentencing. Mr Crawford’s bail was extended.