T-Jay Raymond Lardner threatened man in Cooroy over Jack Daniels

A Kings Beach teenager keen on a bottle of Jack Daniels became so agitated at a man in a Cooroy housing facility he threatened to ‘cave’ his head in.

A Kings Beach teenager thirsty for a bottle of Jack Daniels said he would “cave in” the head of a man because he wouldn’t stop talking, a court has heard.

Noosa Magistrates Court was told T-Jay Raymond Lardner became agitated at an interim housing facility in Cooroy about 11.45am on April 23, 2022 when he couldn’t get a bottle of Jack Daniels.

Police prosecutor Alison Johnstone said the 18-year-old told his carer he would be leaving when an argument ensued where he made threats to bash the man because he was going to call the police.

The court heard Lardner threatened to “cave” the man’s head in.

Lardner clarified to Magistrate Maxine Baldwin that he said he would “smash” the man’s head in because he “kept talking … and asking too many questions”.

“He wouldn’t shut up and kept talking too much, but it wasn’t because he was calling the cops,” Lardner said.

Sergeant Johnstone said the 18-year-old left the facility before he was picked up by police a short time later and found with marijuana.

Duty lawyer Bernard Bradley said Lardner would be moving back to Coffs Harbour to start a new life with the Gumbaynggirr mob.

Magistrate Maxine Baldwin told the teenager he needed to “pull his bootstraps up” so he could learn his culture and become an elder in 20 years’ time.

Lardner pleaded guilty to threats and possessing drugs and was fined $200.

He was also put on a good behaviour bond for four months, with no convictions recorded.