Peter Walsh’s terrifying rampage on ex-wife and council workers

A welder’s campaign of terror involved him bashing his ex-wife, threatening intervening council workers with a knife and lighting a fire inside her house.

A man’s children saw the aftermath of the injuries he inflicted on their mother during his rampage of terror.

Peter Michael Walsh, 28, said a “fuse was lit” on the day he bashed his ex-wife and threatened council workers with a knife.

The Adelaide Magistrates Court heard Walsh arrived at his ex-wife’s Sefton Park property on October 19, 2021 and was told to leave.

“You pulled your ex-wife inside the vehicle, you then violently assaulted her by repeatedly hitting her head,” Magistrate Roderick Jensen said during sentencing.

“She tried to protect herself but your assault continued.”

The court heard two council workers nearby intervened and his ex-wife managed to escape.

Walsh then threatened the council workers with a knife.

“You approached him (a worker) with the knife in your hand and made threats such as ‘I’ll remember your face’,” Mr Jensen said.

“It is not surprising that each of the council workers feared for their personal safety.”

One of the council workers drove around the block several times with Walsh’s ex-wife.

However, Walsh impeded the car and uttered more threats.

“You held up a jerry can of fuel, you splashed fuel from the jerry can towards the vehicle,” Mr Jensen said.

The council worker drove off and police were called.

Walsh then attended his ex-wife’s property and walked up the front window with a jerry can.

“The witness saw you smash the window and pour petrol from the jerry can in and around that area,” Mr Jensen said.

“The witness saw you ignite the fuel and a fire ensued.”

The court heard the fire was short lived and extinguished itself but a television and the carpet were damaged.”

Walsh then tried to gain entry to a nearby business and managed to break the glass, which cost $2300 to replace.

Peter Walsh was sentenced for his terrifying rampage on his ex-wife and council workers. Photo: File

The woman was hospitalised for her injuries.

The Morphett Vale father-of-two pleaded guilty to multiple offences, including assault and property damage.

The court heard Walsh, who worked as a welder, separated from his wife in 2021.

“Your children saw the aftermath of the injuries you inflicted upon her and both she … and your children struggled in the period after the offences,” Mr Jensen said.

The court heard Walsh was ashamed of his offending, with his counsel saying “a fuse was lit on the day and he couldn’t explain why”.

“There is likely very little that you can do to remove the horror of the events … from your ex-wife’s memory," Mr Jensen said.

“It will be with her forever.”

Magistrate Jensen sentenced Walsh to six months’ jail.

The sentence was suspended on a $1000, 18-month, $1000 good behaviour bond, with supervision for 12 months.

Walsh was also ordered to pay $2337.50 compensation to the business.