Philip Bryan Cooke in Emerald court for threatening bank staff

A Central Queensland man who exploded in a rage and threatened to shoot people in a bank said he was frustrated his funds transfer was delayed.

A Central Queensland man frustrated over a funds transfer delay threatened to walk into a bank with a shotgun and “start blowing c---s away”.

Phillip Bryan Cooke called the ANZ bank customer service helpline on October 2, 2022 with concerns about a transfer from his account to one with the Commonwealth Bank.

Police Prosecutor Sergeant Rachel Todd told the court Cooke placed a phone call to the ANZ bank customer service helpline on October 2, 2022 about the online transfer of money from his account to the Commonwealth Bank.

She said Cooke became agitated when they told him they couldn’t speed up the process, demanding they do so immediately.

The court was told Cooke told the worker words to the effect of, “I’ll start walking into the bank with a sawn off shotty (shotgun) and start blowing c---- away”.

The agent told Cooke he could lodge a complaint but couldn’t threaten to kill people or bank staff.

“I don’t give a f---,” the court heard Cooke said.

“I need the money transferred now.

“Someone will end up with their f---ing head splattered all over the wall behind them if this s--- doesn’t go through.”

The court heard Cook asked for the call to be transferred to the agent’s manager before continuing his tirade against the worker.

“I want you to lose your job,” Cooke said.

“Go home and think about whether you can do anything other than kill yourself.”

Cooke later admitted to police he made the threats out of frustration because he needed the money to meet repayment due the next day.

Phillip Bryan Cooke outside of Emerald Magistrates Court January, 17, 2023.

Sgt Todd said Cooke had a criminal record from 2021 with similar offending.

Lawyer Danielle Lynas Torr tendered a letter from a psychologist her client was seeing.

Ms Lynas Torr said the 42-year-old acted out of frustration.

“He was under the threat at the time of being evicted from where he was renting,” she said.

“And as it stands at the moment, his employment is tenuous. It’s not as permanent as the position he used to have.”

Ms Torr told the court Cooke was already on probation and had previously been placed on suspended sentences for other matters.

Magistrate Rosemary Gilbert described Cooke’s behaviour as “absolutely appalling”.

Cooke pleaded guilty in Emerald Magistrates Court on January 23 to one count of using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence, and drink driving. The latter charge related to being stopped by Emerald police in October, where Cooke recorded a blood alcohol concentration of 0.103.

Cooke was fined $2000 and disqualified from driving for four months, but granted a work licence.