For German international student, Paul Kuhn, the temptation to wander around a museum in the middle of the night – and take a bunch of selfies with dinosaurs in the process – was all too real.

So alluring was the idea that in the early hours of 10 May 2020, the 25-year-old allegedly decided he would break into the Australian Museum in Sydney’s CBD and scrupulously explore the premises for a good 40 minutes.

Indeed, it was much like the film Night at the Museum, except of course that the dinosaurs didn’t come to life.

And just as well – given the alleged museum trespasser put his head inside the mouth of one.

Unfortunately for the man, CCTV captured all his intruder antics as he took himself on a tour of Australia’s oldest museum specialising in natural history and anthropology.

In the footage, Mr Kuhn could be seen allegedly gawking at the exhibits, calling his friends in dimmed hallways, rummaging through cupboards, and even taking selfies of his head in the skulls of dinosaurs.

He also allegedly donned a brown cowboy hat that he stumbled across on a coat rack that belonged to a member of staff.

As Mr Kuhn left, he also allegedly stole an artwork, and failed to return the hat.

Thankfully, no historical artefacts were damaged during the ordeal.

NSW Police Release CCTV Footage in Bid to Find Museum Intruder

Following the incident, NSW Police were forced to release the CCTV footage in an effort to identify the man.

NSW Detective Chief Inspector Sean Heaney told reporters of the student’s clowning around after breaking in to the museum.

“He’s wandered through some of the internal areas to check some lockers and doors,” Chief Inspector Heaney said.

“He’s taken some selfies with some of the displays. He’s also stolen a hat and a picture from the wall and eventually left.

“And yeah, he certainly enjoyed his night at the museum.”

Chief Inspector Heaney also issue Mr Kuhn a public warning to “get in contact with us before we get in contact with you.”

Indeed, it appeared Mr Kuhn followed the advice as he turned himself into Surry Hills police station not long after where he was charged with break and enter.

He was refused bail and given a date to appear at Central Local Court.

German Student Faces Court Over Stolen Cowboy Hat and Artwork

On 18 May, Mr Kuhn appeared in court where he faced charges of breaking and entering into the Australian Museum, as well as stealing a cowboy hat and a piece of artwork.

His lawyer verified the student had no criminal history and during the alleged incident, had not been trying to hide his face.

The 25-year-old student was granted bail on the conditions that he hands over his passport and adheres to a curfew.

It is believed the German student is a self-confessed “hustler” and poker player.

He also refers to himself as a “property entrepreneur”, however, he simultaneously boasts that “he doesn’t have to work”, while his social media profiles showcase a lifestyle characteristic of a playboy as well as a series of short-lived jobs.

Mr Kuhn also claims to have played poker professionally back in the town of Hessen in Germany, saying it helped him learn “a lot about life and business”.

Nevertheless, he ended up quitting poker, which he played seven days a week for up to 20 hours at a time, because he “felt like a thief” and wanted to “make people’s lives better”.

Mr Kuhn came to Sydney on a student visa two years ago.

He lasted two months working as a door-to-door sales representative, before deciding there was “no opportunity for growth”.

Now, it appears he is making the most of what he calls “living the Australian dream”.

In NSW, if you carry out a ‘serious indictable offence’ inside a building or home after breaking into it, you will find yourself charged with the crime of breaking and entering and committing a serious indictable offence pursuant to section 112 Crimes Act 1900 (NSW).

The maximum penalty for this offence is 14-years jail.

A serious indictable offence is any offence that carries a penalty of more than five years in jail – which include crimes such as larceny, assault occasioning bodily harm and sexual assault.

A former professional footballer from Thurrock, Essex, is due in court accused of a string of sex offences.

Tyrell Robinson, 22, of South Ockendon, has been charged with engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a child, one count of making an indecent image of a child and two counts of distributing an indecent image of a child.

The 22-year-old played for League Two side Bradford City before being sacked by the club over the accusations in February this year.

He appeared at Bradford Magistrates’ Court on June 2 via a Skype link where he signalled to confirm his name, date of birth and address.

Robinson is accused of sexually touching a 14-year-old girl in Bradford in August 2018, as well as being accused of making and distributing an indecent image of a child via Snapchat on the same day.

Robinson is also charged with distributing an indecent photograph of a child in a video sent by WhatsApp in December 2017.

The ex-winger will appear at Bradford Crown Court today (Tuesday, June 16).

Republic of Ireland footballer Darron Gibson has admitted drink-driving following a St Patrick’s Day crash.

The 30-year-old midfielder was on his way to meet colleagues at Sunderland’s Academy of Light when he was involved in a collision on Dovedale Road on Saturday, March 17.

The collision happened as Gibson was on his way to Sunderland’s training ground, where he was due to meet up with teammates before the squad travelled to the Stadium of Light for the match against Preston North End.

The former Manchester United and Everton player, from Hale, Cheshire, was charged with drink-driving and is appearing at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

Gibson entered a guilty plea and magistrates adjourned the case until May, when he will be sentenced.

They warned Gibson that, because of his past convictions and the aggravating factors in the case, he faces a possible custodial sentence.

After he was charged, Gibson and Sunderland ended his contract by mutual consent.

We had live updates from the courtroom below.

SUSPENSION?

Rabada faces the prospect of missing the last 2 Tests of the series between South Africa and Australia after he was hit with a level two charge © Getty

Kagiso Rabada is in danger of missing the last two Tests of the ongoing series between South Africa and Australia after he was hit with a level two charge by match referee Jeff Crowe. Rabada made shoulder contact with Steve Smith after dismissing the Australia captain during the opening day of the second Test.

Article 42.3.1 of the players code of conduct cites “making inappropriate and deliberate contact with another player” as a level two offence, which carries a sanction of a fine and either three or four demerit points. Rabada is currently on five demerit points, and should he be found guilty of the level two breach, he would reach the eight-point mark that triggers a two-Test ban.

Rabada has confirmed that he will contest the charge on the basis that the contact was accidental. He will face a hearing after the third day’s play at St George’s Park, with umpire Chris Gaffaney’s absence on day two due to illness forcing the hearing to be delayed. Privately Rabada has insisted that he was running towards AB de Villiers in the slips – because de Villiers had predicted that Rabada would take Smith’s wicket – at the time of the incident.

However the ICC take a dim view of any form of physical contact, and Rabada also has a record in this regard. Last February he made what the ICC judged to be “avoidable contact” with Sri Lanka’s Niroshan Dickwella during a one-day international match. Both players were sanctioned, with Rabada picking up three demerit points.

The fast bowler subsequently served a one-Test ban during South Africa’s series in England after he was caught using foul language in the wake of his dismissal of Ben Stokes. That incident earned him one demerit point, which took him to four overall – the point at which players are banned for either one Test or two ODIs.

© Cricbuzz

RELATED STORIES