A Springdale Heights man threatened to set on fire a car belonging to a man he had an unfounded suspicion of being a drug dealer, a court has heard.
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Quentin Horsten was concerned his two-year-old daughter, who lived with her mother, was being exposed to the man.
But defence lawyer Mark Cronin said it was important to note that Horsten told police, on his arrest, that "he had no intention of carrying out the threat".
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The incident happened against the background of simmering tensions between Horsten and the victim, who separated six months earlier after a relationship lasting more than eight years.
Horsten, Albury Local Court has heard, became suspicious of the man after seeing his car outside the West Albury home of his ex-partner.
The 33-year-old, who Mr Cronin said worked part-time as a plant operator at Morven, east of Culcairn, pleaded guilty to charges of stalking or intimidation and the contravention of an apprehended domestic violence order.
Police told the court that Horsten went to the victim's home to visit his daughter on February 3 about 6pm.
Due to the ongoing "hostility" between the pair, police had advised the woman to video any contact she had with Horsten "for her own benefit".
This is just what she did when Horsten turned-up at her home.
The pair had a brief argument on the footpath, with Horsten asking his ex-partner about a car in her driveway: "So, who's that, your drug dealer or your boyfriend?"
"That's twice I've seen the car here."
After 20 minutes they walked to a nearby playground with their daughter.
"Oh, don't worry," he then said to the victim.
"I've taken a photo of that car too, (I'm) finding out everything about it.
"If it goes past my house again I'll torch the f ... ing thing."
Police said the comments were captured on the video being taken by the victim.
The woman reported Horsten later that day to police, who phoned him on the evening of February 19.
"The accused informed police that his main concern lies with possible drug dealers being around his two-year-old daughter and the threat in relation to the possible adverse environment the daughter was in."
Magistrate Richard Funston convicted Horsten and placed him on a conditional release order, without supervision.
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