Warner man pleads guilty to multiple charges after stealing a $200 chair

A Warner man threatened to shoot a family and their pet cat with a harpoon after stealing a $200 chair.

THE theft of a $200 chair has landed a Warner resident in jail after he threatened to kill police and shoot his victim’s cat with a harpoon.

Declan John McClenaghan, 20, pleaded guilty at Pine Rivers Magistrates’ Court today to six charges including stealing, going armed, obstructing police, drug possession and possession of a drug utensil.

Koalas are being killed on suburban roads in alarming numbers

Magistrate hands out close to $10,000 in fines for traffic offences in a week

The court heard that during the course of his arrest, McClenaghan made threats to the police, the victim, the victim’s family and the victim’s cat, though a seventh charge of threatening violence was dropped.

The charges stemmed from an early morning theft of an outdoor chair on May 9 at an address in Warner, which was caught on CCTV and an alert issued to the occupant.

The court heard that the victim received the CCTV alert and after viewing the footage, set out to find his chair, locating its frame about 200m away.

He took it back home before returning to search for the remainder of the chair when he spotted McClenaghan, who he recognised from the camera footage, parked in a silver Holden.

He approached McClenaghan, asking for the return of his chair.

McClenaghan ran off into a nearby unit complex before returning the victim’s address a short time later.

The victim approached McClenaghan then McClenaghan pulled out a knife and started making threats.

“I didn’t fucking steal your shit, don't tempt me you know what I’m capable of,” McClenaghan told the victim.

“You better not make a report to police, I know where you live.”

Prosecutor Sergeant Kim Harwood said the victim ran back inside his house closing his door in extreme fear, before calling the police.

She said police arrived and went to the defendants’ residence a short time later.

McClenaghan refused to allow police into the home, saying he didn't know anything about the theft of the chair and threatening the victim’s family.

Police forced entry into the house by kicking in the front door and McClenaghan “violently resisted arrest”.

Sgt Harwood said it took five police officers to get him subdues and handcuffed.

“He continued to yell threats about killing police and made threats to the victim and the victim’s family now being in serious danger.

“He made continual threats to police in relation to returning to the victim’s address with a harpoon gun and shooting the victim’s cat and the victim’s parents stating the victim’s face will be covered in blood.”

During a search of the home, police found 0.61 grams of meth, 8.28 grams of cannabis, 2mg of Alprazolam and a glass smoking pipe.

McClenaghan’s defence counsel said his offending resulted from a pre-existing drug condition.

“When COVID-19 hit he lost his support structures which were narcotics anonymous, regular treatment with psychologist and he regretfully took up company with old friends putting him in contact with drugs.

“Upon his release from jail, he does have the support of his mother … and there are possibilities of employment on the horizon.

“I do concede there is a need for further supervision until he gets a handle on his drug use and he will need further in-house rehabilitation which he has started to look at with his mother’s assistance.”

Magistrate Trevor Morgan ordered McClenaghan to six months imprisonment, including the 44 days already served, suspended for 12 months.

McClenaghan, who did not appear at court, was also ordered to pay $200 restitution for the chair.