Man taped to street sign in bizarre alleged kidnapping: court

An alleged drug dealer who is accused of taping a half-naked man to a street sign has reacted jubilantly after she was told she would be released from prison on bail.

Melissa Feary, 40, from Taree on the NSW Mid North Coast, appeared in the NSW Supreme Court on Friday in a bid to be released from prison where she has spent the last four months on remand.

She has been behind bars since being charged with a string of offences, including kidnapping, following an alleged bizarre incident in March this year.

The court was told that she was allegdly involved in the kidnapping of a man who was taped to a street sign in an attempt to deter him from going to police.

“The heart of the charges arise out of events on 13 March 2024 when (Ms Feary), in company with two men, put another man in the boot of a Commodore and drove him to the main street and sticky taped him to a pole half naked,” Justice Tim Faulkner told the court on Friday.

The New Zealand-born woman has been charged with kidnapping, the supply of a prohibited drug, assaulting a police officer and possessing a prescribed restricted substance and is due to face Taree Local Court again later this month.

The court was told the mother of four is alleged to have committed the offence alongside her partner, Michael Brown, and another man.

Mr Brown has also been charged with kidnapping in company and drug supply and remains before the courts.

The Supreme Court was told on Friday that she had videoed the alleged kidnapping as well as sent text messages referencing the incident.

Justice Faulkner noted concerns from police about the risk of Ms Feary interfering with witnesses, adding: “The purpose of taking the man in the boot into the main street was to dissuade that person from talking to police, as the Crown alleges.”

He said the Crown case in relation to the kidnapping allegations “appears to me to be strong”, noting she filmed the alleged incident on her phone.

The court was told that Ms Fairy had reported while in prison on remand being assaulted by other inmates that had “scared the hell” out of her.

Justice Faulkner granted bail so that Ms Feary could enter into counselling and seek care at a drug and alcohol rehabilitation service.

She looked up to the sky and uttered “thank you” as she was told by Justice Faulkner that she would be granted bail.

“I’m going to grant you bail and I’m going to do it subject to a number of conditions,” Justice Faulkner said.

“Yes, that’s fair enough,” Ms Feary replied.

She was released on bail, including conditions that she report to Taree Police Station daily, live at a Taree address, abide by a curfew and abstain from alcohol and illegal drugs.