A magistrate says an Albury man who threatened to set his ex-partner's house on fire while warning "I don't care about the kids" inside would have left her "absolutely terrified."
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
"I find the level of aggression and threat extremely concerning and alarming," Richard Funston told Jye Wilkinson in jailing him for 18 months.
"I find the behaviour absolutely terrifying. I have taken a very dim view of this offending."
IN OTHER NEWS:
Defence lawyer Graham Lamond said his 23-year-old client "was affected by methamphetamine at the time" he made several threatening phone calls to the victim in early February.
"He suggested he had not slept in 14 days."
Mr Lamond said this would have totally disrupted Wilkinson's thought processes.
In response, Mr Funston said this "would make it even more terrifying for the victim".
Mr Lamond said Wilkinson and his former partner were "both extremely young" when they had children around the age of 17 to 18.
He said that while Wilkinson had previously accepted an invite from her to resume their relationship after a previous bust-up, it was different this time "as he has accepted that the relationship is over".
Mr Lamond said Wilkinson was illiterate and had been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and bipolar disorder.
Wilkinson pleaded guilty to contravention of an apprehended violence order and stalking or intimidation.
The court was told that Wilkinson, who has been in Junee jail bail refused since February 18, and the victim he been in a long-term relationship leading up to her being granted an order by Albury Local Court.
The victim received her first phone call on February 8 at 10.24pm.
At 12.10am, she was called again. Wilkinson warned: "Make sure you stay awake all night cause I'll break in when you lease (sic) expect it."
She warned she would call the police before hanging up.
Fifteen minutes later he called again, threatening: "I'll put gasoline around your house and lit it up, I don't care about the kids."
Another call came on February 10 at 10.14am that the victim asked a friend to record. This included the threat: "I'll tie you up and put you in the boot."
The final call 15 minutes later had threats to the victim, her brothers and her grandmother.
A non-parole period of nine months will have Wilkinson eligible for release on November 17.