Nationalist activist Stephen Wells was brutalised by police after being arrested in Adelaide on Australia Day, denied food for the next seven days, and is still in solitary confinement, a source says.
Mr Wells, 55, from Western Australia, was arrested while marching through the South Australian capital with about 70 members of right-wing activist group the National Socialist Network on January 26, charged with loitering, and refused bail to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court three days later along with 15 others.
He was then taken to Adelaide Remand Centre, where he will remain until March after refusing to sign a bail agreement with conditions including a ban on entering the Adelaide CBD and associating with other members of the NSN.
Members of the National Socialist Network sing Waltzing Matilda as they march through the Adelaide CBD on Australia Day.
Police later made multiple arrests. pic.twitter.com/czRIgdWKsX
— The Noticer (@NoticerNews) January 26, 2025
Since arriving at the privately managed maximum security facility, the political prisoner has been in solitary confinement with no access to direct sunlight, and no human contact except for when receiving meals, a source who has spoken to Mr Wells since he has been in custody told Noticer News.
Mr Wells told the source he had been informed he was being isolated as a result of “non-compliance” for initially refusing to wear a uniform, and for his own personal safety.
The source said Mr Wells was treated violently during his arrest, left in severe pain while handcuffed inside a police vehicle, and had his requests for help ignored.
Mr Wells follows a carnivore diet which the prison refused to accommodate, and he went without food for seven days as a result before being given eggs earlier this week, the source said.
The source further said Mr Wells was not provided with toilet paper, forcing him to wash himself in the shower after relieving himself, and was not given toiletries until today.
Mr Wells told the source he saw the bail conditions as equivalent to being told “take the Covid vaccine or lose your job”, and that he was being punished for refusing to voluntarily give up his freedom of political association and freedom of association in general.
“If I give them my consent it’s the same as taking the vax to keep my job,” he told the source.
“That’s why they’re punishing me so hard, that’s where the fight lies.”
Video obtained by Noticer News shows nationalist activist Thomas Sewell being arrested seconds into a speech in front of the National War Memorial in Adelaide today.
“I am under arrest for celebrating Australia Day”, he says as police handcuff him. pic.twitter.com/Ac6unpgmTQ
— The Noticer (@NoticerNews) January 26, 2025
He was arrested alongside 15 other members of the NSN after they marched through Adelaide waving Australian flags and singing Waltzing Matilda, including leader Thomas Sewell, who was arrested just seconds after starting a speech at the National War Memorial.
Their charges included fail to cease loitering, possess an article of disguise, assault police and display Nazi symbol. 13 were released on bail, one pleaded guilty, and Mr Sewell was later bailed from Adelaide Remand Centre.
Leading nationalist figure Joel Davis was then arrested while waiting for the other 16 outside court on January 28, and charged with two counts of displaying a Nazi symbol for his NSN patch and an eagle on his belt.
Noticer News contacted Adelaide Remand Centre and the Department for Correctional Services for comment, but did not receive a response.
Header image: Left, Mr Wells being arrested (Nine News). Right, the NSN at the National War Memorial (supplied).
