Will Fisher, Natalie MacDonald and Lynette McDonald sentenced over Goolwa Beach vigilante hostage ordeal

A woman who hogtied and bashed a man with a hammer in a bid to exact vigilante justice has been sentenced.

The ringleader – in a trio of thugs – who hogtied and bashed a man before leading him in a “medieval scene” down a street has been jailed for her “frightening and humiliating” actions.

Natalie Jane MacDonald, 48, is now behind bars while Will Richard Fisher, 42 and Lynette Margaret McDonald, 63, managed to escape jail after a judge condemned their vigilante justice.

During sentencing, the District Court heard the victim had been in a relationship with a woman who went missing in April 2022.

On April 14, 2022, the victim was at a Goolwa Beach property when police attended and told him the woman was safe.

The victim was about to leave the property when a group of people arrived, including MacDonald and Fisher.

Natalie MacDonald pleaded guilty to assault and false imprisonment. Photo: Facebook

“You were asking the victim where (the woman) was and you accused the victim of kidnapping her,” Judge Anthony Allen said.

The victim tried to tell them that the woman had been found but they wouldn’t listen to him.

“It would appear that nothing the victim would say could appease your rage,” Judge Allen said.

The court heard MacDonald, who was holding a hammer, instructed Fisher to tie the victim up.

“The victim attempted to escape and ran out the backdoor but you, Mr Fisher, chased him, tackled him and started hitting him,” Judge Allen said.

MacDonald and Fisher then hogtied the victim, before MacDonald delivered a number of blows to his head and legs with the hammer.

The court heard MacDonald filmed the hogtied and injured victim before calling McDonald to join them.

McDonald attended the premises and took hold of a pitchfork and threatened the victim, saying: “Just tell them whatever you know, man, this isn’t worth it”.

“During the offending the victim thought he was going to die,” Judge Allen said.

McDonald returned home, while MacDonald grabbed the rope which tied the victim’s hands together and dragged him out the door, heading towards the main road.

“There can be no doubt that this was extremely frightening and humiliating behaviour,” Judge Allen said.

“It is reminiscent of a medieval scene that has no part to play in modern society.”

After members of the public contacted police they attended and spoke to MacDonald who told them she had made a citizen’s arrest.

A CT scan revealed that the victim had a fractured nose, bruising and cuts.

MacDonald and Fisher pleaded guilty to assault and false imprisonment, while McDonald pleaded guilty to assault by threatening to use a weapon.

Judge Allen said while he accepted the trio held a genuine concern for the safety of the woman, their actions were “deeply and clearly misguided”.

“Vigilante justice can never be condoned in civil society,” he said.

MacDonald was sentenced to one year and 10 months’ jail, with a non-parole period of one year.

Fisher was sentenced to one year and five months’ jail, with a non-parole period of 10 months, while McDonald was sentenced to two months’ jail.

Due to the duo’s lesser roles in the offending and rehabilitation efforts, their sentences were suspended on a $500, good behaviour bond.