Threats made

Paul Matthews tried in Albury Local Court to get out of custody on a good behaviour bond.

But magistrate Tony Murray said that this simply was not an option as Matthews’ offending was extremely serious.

​Mr Murray then recounted the threats made by Matthews in the mobile phone calls to a NSW Family and Community Services manager at Cootamundra.

“I will find out where you live and we will come and get your family,” was one of the comments he made.

His anger was over getting access to his two young children.

But the department worker was a step ahead of Matthews.

He made sure he put some of the calls onto speaker phone so others in his office could hear the threats.

Matthews, 42, appeared in court on Monday via video link from jail.

He spent a lot of the time on screen making out that he was sobbing, especially when the texts were read out.

That was accompanied at times by him rubbing the top of his bowed, shaved head.

But Matthews stopped crying and appeared completely calm when he realised he was going to jail.

Mr Murray said the offence of stalking or intimidating was such a serious matter that it carried a maximum penalty of five years’ jail.

He said Matthews’ behaviour was very much at the higher end of the scale and that it “needs to be stamped out by the courts”.

He jailed Matthews for a year, ordering that he serve a minimum of seven months.

Police told the court that the manager had to make contact with Matthews over court matters.

Matthews made his first call on November 18 at 4.46pm.

He swore abuse at the victim before telling him: “I’m gonna get you, I’m gonna find out where you live. I hope you think your family’s safe”.

Matthews rang again just a minute later, threatening to “come and get your family. We will get everyone that you know.”

In a third phone call, at 4.49pm, he said: “I will stomp on your head.”