Redcliffe Peninsula father threatens to ‘hang himself from parliament’ due to rego costs
A Redcliffe Peninsula father who threatened to “gutter stomp” the staff at a State MP’s office over his rego has escaped a jail sentence and a hefty fine.
Moreton
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A 27-year-old man from north of Brisbane sent multiple harassing, menacing and offensive emails to a local MP including threatening to “f*** your staff up” and to “kick their heads in”.
Joshua Richard Allan, 27, appeared in Redcliffe Magistrates Court on July 15.
He was charged with one count of using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence.
Commonwealth Prosecutor Mr Armstrong told the court Allan emailed the offensive and threatening messages to the office of State Labor MP for Bancroft Chris Whiting between January 30 and February 6 this year.
In the emails Allan was complaining about the direct debit payment system for vehicle registration.
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“The email contained content about the protests the defendant intended to take including setting himself on fire, sowing his lips shut and starving himself to death and hanging himself from the Queensland Parliament,” Mr Armstrong told the court.
Allan also sent emails detailing what he would do if his protests did not work including threats to “f*** your staff up” and “literally kick their heads in and gutter stomp them for provoking me”.
The office of Mr Whiting reported the matter to police.
Officers then attended Allan’s home on February 19, 2020 and seized a mobile phone.
Allan told police he had sent the emails but that he did not believe they were threatening.
Mr Armstrong told Magistrate Bucknall, on submitting Allan’s criminal history, that it was the second time he committed an offence of this nature.
Allan was sentenced on January 24, 2018 to 18 months probation – the latest offence occurred within six months of that order finishing.
Mr Armstrong said the maximum penalty Magistrate Bucknall could impose was a 12 month jail sentence or a $12,600 fine.
In sentencing Magistrate Bucknall said “elected representatives and their staff should not have to tolerate the type of threats that you made to them”.
“I have no doubt they would have been concerned no way to ascertain whether you were capable of carrying out those threats or not.”
Allan was placed on a good behaviour bond for two years and a 12 month probation order.
A conviction was recorded.
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