A man who exposed Bunnings shoppers and staff to a dangerous chilli spray, which left 11 hospitalised, claimed he was only trying to ‘entertain’ a mate.

Paul Andrew Hart, 51, appeared in WA District Court on Wednesday via videolink from Acacia Prison after pleading guilty to causing poison to be administered at Northam Bunnings east of Perth on April 25 last year.

The court heard the FIFO worker sprayed ‘Satan’s Spit’ inside the store ‘to lighten the mood and entertain a friend who was going through rough times’, the West Australian reported.

Satan’s Spit contains a mix of alcohol and chill extract.

Reading its label, Judge Nicholas Egan said: ‘This is one of our hottest and more dangerous products, please handle with care. Spray with caution as it can get travel through the air and get in eyes. You’ve been warned.’

The court heard that Hart also had a bottle of ‘fart spray’ in his pocket at the time but didn’t use it.

The deployment of the chilli spray alone saw 15 people break into coughing fits and suffer a burning pain to their eyes and nose.

Emergency services rushed to the scene and initially feared a toxic material had been spilt in the store.

A man who deployed a chilli spray in a WA Bunnings store had his bid for freedom rejected in court on Wednesday (stock image)

The FIFO worker had used Satan’s Spit (pictured) in an effort ‘to lighten the mood and entertain a companion who was going through rough times’

Two of those affected by the spray were aged under-16.

Eleven people were taken to hospital, where they had to strip off and take decontamination showers.

Each went home with an ambulance bill in excess of $1,000.

The Bunnings store forced to close while the contamination source was investigated, which resulted in $16,000 worth of lost earnings.

Bunnings also had to fork out more than $3,000 in workers’ compensation.

Hart was later arrested at his home and charged with causing poison to be administered.

He faces up to five years behind bars after he pleaded guilty in January.

Hart was initially granted bail last year but committed three offences while on bail.

The Northam Bunnings (pictured) east of Perth was forced to close, resulting in $16,000 worth of lost earnings

The 51-year-old threatened his former partner, a prosecutor and a judicial officer and was jailed for nine months.

Hart spent an additional 40 days behind bars, which Judge Egan said would be deducted from any future jail term.

In a bid for his re-release, Hart’s lawyer argued his client didn’t believe the chilli spray would cause such severe effects as it’s a food product.

He argued on that account, Hart’s actions weren’t malicious but reckless.

However, prosecutors shot down the request for freedom, arguing that Hart was a flight risk.

The hardware retailer was forced to fork out in excess of $3,000 in workers compensation over the incident (stock image)

It shared an outstanding warrant for Hart’s arrest in Queensland, dating back to 1995, and a prison phone call during which he’d said: ‘I want to get out of the west. I’m finished over here.’

Hart claimed he was unaware of the arrest warrant as he’d undergone several federal police clearances in the last 30 years.

Judge Egan rejected the bid for freedom, ruling no bail conditions would eliminate the risk of Hart failing to attend.

Hart was remanded in custody to reappear in court for a sentence mention next Friday.