Pinbarren man Bernhard Jilg pleads guilty to threatening Noosa Council workers

An angry resident involved in a long-running dispute with Noosa Council has flown into a “rage” outside his home and intimidated two local government employees with a large piece of wood.

Bernhard Erich Jilg leaving Noosa Magistrates Court on Tuesday after his sentence.

A Pinbarren resident has unleashed a wave of fury with a piece of wood at two Noosa Council workers who were doing roadworks outside his home.

Bernhard Erich Jilg, 63, was armed with the large weapon when he attacked the vehicles of two local government employees who were repairing Upper Pinbarren Creek Rd outside his home on March 5.

Noosa Magistrates Court heard Jilg, who pleaded guilty to wilful damage, going armed to cause fear and obstructing police, had been in a tense feud with Noosa Council for more than two decades.

The court was told on Tuesday one of the council workers was driving a Caterpillar grader, which were used in the construction and maintenance of dirt and gravel roads in preparation for asphalt, when he stopped momentarily to let a tipper truck leave.

Jilg pleaded guilty to three charges.

Police prosecutor David Hoffmann said the 63-year-old was seen walking down his drive while armed with a large piece of wood before he struck the front of the grader in a “rage”. He then hit the window where the victim was in the cabin of the vehicle.

His council colleague saw Jilg from the tipper vehicle and held down his horn to distract the Pinbarren man. This caught the attention of Jilg who walked over to the truck and bashed its driver’s side door and glass window.

After the meltdown, Jilg walked inside his home and the police were called.

The court heard he had been in a long running dispute with Noosa Council.

Officers asked Jilg to come to the Pomona Police Station to be interviewed about the incident, however this did not occur.

The court heard officers went to his home on March 31 where he was arrested. During his apprehension the 63-year-old refused to enter their police vehicle, abused officers and called them “a---holes”.

Senior Constable Hoffmann said in documents before the court, Jilg described his “battle” with Noosa Council, his objection to his arrest on Easter Sunday, and the council’s “infinite wisdom” to undertake roadworks on the access to his property “without any consultation”.

In reading these documents, the police prosecutor took issue with how the dispute was likened to a “David vs Goliath battle”.

Defence lawyer Jason Kerr pushed for a good behaviour bond, however magistrate Chris Callaghan said it was too serious for that.

The court heard Jilg suffered from post traumatic stress disorder following a complication with antivenin when he was bit by a snake.

Mr Callaghan said Jilg took the law into his own hands and believed PTSD would not cause this violent reaction.

The magistrate however said it was out of character for the Pinbarren man.

Jilg was fined $1500 and ordered to pay $2086.21 compensation to Noosa Council. No conviction was recorded.