Mark Latham, The Australian, 2006.

John Stapleton

Former Labor leader Mark Latham failed to appear at a Sydney court yesterday for the ongoing progress of his court case deriving from his alleged attack on News Ltd photographer Ross Schultz. 

Latham is charged with common assault, malicious damage and stealing from a person. He has been accused of destroying a $9,000 digital camera after he confronted the photographer outside a fast food outlet. 

The media, once his biggest supporter, remain fascinated by Latham. They turned up in large numbers for his non-appearance at Campbelltown Court, where his case was adjourned for another month, and also showed up at his house in nearby Glen Alpine. 

With hostilities now well entrenched, the media expected nothing but abuse from the former prime ministerial hopeful. 

A fortress like air has descended over his house. The famous gate on the driveway at the side of the house, where Latham has been repeatedly photographed giving the media the benefit of his views, has now been covered with old sheets and tarpolans to block off any view into his backyard. 

An intrepid crew from Channel Ten stuck a camera over the top of the gate. ``Get off the property, get off the property,'' Latham shouted back at them. The general view amongst the media is that Latham has entered some bag lady's world, not just a recluse but something madder again. 

The Australian, not for the first time, bravely climbed over the locked child proof fence that blocks the path to his front door and knocked. We were ignored.