Glen Michael Calnan sentenced for attack on ‘dodgy’ car repairer

A ‘dodgy’ car repairer was attacked and restrained with tape by vigilantes who stormed his workplace in rage, after a business relationship went wrong.

Vigilantes attacked a “dodgy” car repairer, including restraining him with tape, because he hadn’t been completing work, a court has heard.

Glen Calnan, 44, acted “outrageously” when he took the law into his own hands and stormed the workplace with his co-accused.

The Adelaide District Court heard Calnan, who operated a business as a classic car restorer, would refer people to the victim for car repairs, including a Holden HK utility.

“Apparently, (the victim) was not attending to the repair of that vehicle in good time which caused you some embarrassment and in turn anger,” Judge Heath Barklay said during sentencing.

The court heard Calnan began harassing the victim to finish the work by threatening to physically assault him.

“On one occasion, you said to the victim that you would smash his face in and said to him ‘Do you know how much I really want to hurt you c**t’,” Judge Barklay said.

Calnan, Matthew Linke, 40, and the owner of the HK utility attended the victim’s Annadale car repair business on September 29, 2020.

“You said to the victim ‘What sort of bulls*** are you going to give me today’,” Judge Barklay said.

“You grabbed the victim with both hands and screamed at his face that you were going to smash his entire face in.”

Calnan then picked up a metal frame chair and threw it at the victim.

The victim put up his hands to protect himself and the chair struck him, causing an injury to his hand.

“After you had assaulted the victim, Mr Linke then went on to threaten the victim with serious violence and thereafter restrained the victim with black tape,” Judge Barklay said.

Judge Barklay said it was accepted Calnan was not involved in the following behaviour and asked the victim to be released.

Glen Calnan was handed a suspended sentence for assault causing harm. Photo: Thinkstock

The Greenock father pleaded guilty to assault causing harm.

Linke, of Angaston, who pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and threatening to cause harm, was sentenced to a nine-month suspended sentence.

The court heard Calnan was deeply ashamed of the offending and his business reputation had been significantly impacted as a result of the charges.

Judge Barklay sentenced Calnan to two months and 12 days jail.

“Your behaviour was outrageous. People are entitled to feel safe in their workplace,” he said.

“When business relations are strained, people cannot take matters into their own hands and resort to violence to enforce their will, or to make a point.”

Due to Calnan’s limited history, the sentence was suspended on a 12-month good behaviour bond.