By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
A MAN who pleaded guilty to clasping his mother around the throat in a “vice-like grip” and possessing dozens of suspected stolen power tools has been jailed.
On 27 April, the man – who had 18 prior convictions – argued with his mother in her Narre Warren home, accusing her of sabotaging his cannabis crop, Dandenong Magistrates’ Court heard.
He squeezed her throat with one hand so she struggled to breathe. She described it to police as a “vice-like grip”, the court heard on 27 June.
On another occasion, the man was fuelled with drugs and alcohol as he approached his mother at her home. At close range he told her she was a “fat c***” and he’d “smash your face in”.
Fearing the man was set to headbutt her, the mother barricaded herself in her bedroom.
On a raid of the house on 6 May, police seized the power tools such as several cordless drills, sanders, stud finders, as well as mobile phones, a road bike stolen from a Berwick cycles store two weeks earlier, a cricket bat and several sunglasses.
Other occupants denied owning the items. The man was unemployed and without trade qualifications, the court was told.
The man surrendered himself at Narre Warren police station on 23 May. Due to a police resourcing issue, the man was bailed for an intervention order hearing, the court was told.
In the meantime, he escaped Casey Hospital as a involuntary mental health patient. He was OC sprayed after resisting arrest by police at Fountain Gate shopping centre.
Defence lawyer Bernard Keating submitted for the man’s release on a community corrections order to “get the help he needs”.
Though not arguing a mental impairment defence, Mr Keating said the accused’s psychological state including paranoid schizophrenia, depression and anxiety was a mitigatory factor.
“His mother says he was well and truly off the planet for the last seven weeks.
“With his condition, his time in prison will be more harsh for him than other people.”
Magistrate Jack Vandersteen said the community, especially the mother, needed protection. The man’s choking of his mother increased her likelihood of being killed by him.
“Most people wouldn’t be able to adequately defend themselves. The police themselves had difficulty controlling you.”
Mr Vandersteen noted the man’s two most recent convictions were for breaching intervention orders.
The man was jailed for 90 days followed by a 12-month supervised community corrections order with drug and mental health treatment.
