Tamworth ex-publican Michael Foxman cross-examined, granted bail changes in Tamworth Local Court

Foxman stepped into the witness box for cross-examination in Tamworth Local Court on Thursday, where he told the court he was going to "set a precedent" and "smite everybody" that has been "persecuting" him.

"Millions of people eat because of me, millions of people love me because of what I've done around the world," he said.

Foxman gave evidence at a hearing for perverting the course of justice after an alleged sex show at the Imperial Hotel in 2019.

The prosecution alleges Foxman intended to pervert the course of justice by approaching two employees of the pub at the time, Louise Eschbach and Christopher Kelly, and asking them to write statements about the alleged graphic sex show or risk losing their jobs.

During cross-examination, Foxman was shown CCTV footage and still images of himself at the hotel on the night of the alleged sex show.

He maintained he is "100 per cent innocent", before warning the court the whole case is being investigated by journalists at the Wall Street Journal who are "ready to run with the story" before making entirely unproven claims about local police dealing drugs at his establishment.

Magistrate Peter Thompson warned Foxman to be careful about what he said in the witness box, and to stop sending correspondence to the court that had nothing to do with administrative matters.

Foxman told Mr Thompson he had been persecuted against and silenced at "every opportunity".

"You have had plenty of opportunity to have your say," Mr Thompson replied.

"You continue to go talking about things that are not going to help you.

"What's going to help you is finishing your evidence today."

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The court heard Mr Thompson had been given special approval from the Chief Magistrate to return to Tamworth in March to oversee the matter.

Before the matter was adjourned, Foxman's request to seize a computer in the courtroom was denied before he made an application to have his bail conditions changed.

Foxman argued the conditions, which require him to be at home between 6pm and 9am, were a violation of his human rights and had caused him to gain 25 kilos.

Mr Thompson varied the curfew, which was not opposed by police prosecutor Sergeant Jodie Westman.

The matter will return to Tamworth Local Court in March 2022, while other matters related to security will return in February.

Foxman denies the charges against him.

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