A man has received jail time for sending threatening messages to two victims, causing them to fear for their life.
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Michael James Marshall, 51-years-old from Leeton, sent the messages over Facebook in March, with enough detail to cause significant emotional distress.
He appeared via Audio Video Link in Griffith Local Court, where he had to be told to be quiet multiple times by Magistrate Joy Boulos as she handed down the sentences.
Facts brought before the court detailed Marshall's messages included lines like: "You've rubbished me hard but you know what, I will settle the score eventually".
"Just a matter of time you dog, you mongrel. You will not feel a thing".
"An AVO will never stop me from deciding from what's right and wrong... be careful now".
"I can easily track you and blow your head off."
The victim did not reply to the messages and took them to the police station. Marshall had also posted photos of firearms on his Facebook account, and police were unable to determine if he had access to them or not.
Officers went to his home in Leeton, placed him under arrest and charged him with use carrier service to menace/harass/offend, and stalk/intimidate/intend fear of physical harm.
Marshall's legal representative Piers Blomfield said Marshall had no recollection of sending the messages, and showed no hesitation in pleading guilty, stating he "was very remorseful."
Magistrate Boulos said Marshall had "literally just gotten out of jail" for similar behaviour. Marshall then interrupted the magistrate, saying the victims "love me too much" and wouldn't take this kind of action.
Mr Blomfield continued, saying Marshall had abstained from alcohol for 17 months, and on the night in question "had one drink and let himself go."
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"While the threats are awful and damaging, they are threats he had no intention of carrying out." Mr Blomfield asked for the 25 per cent discount for his early pleas of guilty.
Magistrate Boulos said his behaviour had caused a lot of fear with alcohol not being an excuse. She was interrupted multiple times by Marshall, on one instance saying "Stop! I'm talking now, you listen to me."
For both counts, he was sentenced by Magistrate Joy Boulos to 10 months in prison backdated from March 20, 2019 with a non-parole period of five months. A related two-year AVO was also brought against him.
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