Joseph Peter Mckenna in court for threatening his neighbour

An alcoholic who threatened an elderly female neighbour at his unit complex screamed abuse and told her he was going to ‘smash her f------ head in’.

Joseph Peter Mckenna outside the Maryborough court house.

An alcoholic who told his 80-year-old neighbour he would “smash her” has faced court for threatening violence.

Joseph Peter Mckenna, 64, pleaded guilty in Maryborough Magistrates Court to threatening violence, two counts of public nuisance and breaching a bail condition.

The court heard Mr Mckenna was in the driveway of his Ferry St residence speaking with police on the afternoon of March 24, 2023.

There were children in school uniform going past the address when Mckenna used the words c---, f--- and b---- when referring to his neighbour.

He was warned by police to stop swearing as children were walking past, but he continued.

In relation to the charge of threatening violence, the court heard the victim was Mckenna’s 80-year-old retired neighbour at his unit complex.

The two had issues in the past, the court was told, and the relationship had deteriorated.

On April 8, the victim was in her unit and heard screaming outside from Mckenna, saying “you got me evicted, you c---”.

He then continued his verbal abuse, the court heard, calling her maggot, b---h and “f------ c---” and threatening to “smash your f------ head in”.

Mckenna said those words while banging on the victim’s door, the court heard.

He then told her: “Whenever you do come out, this time you will see what happens. Anytime you come out I’m going to smash you”.

Mckenna then went around to the backdoor of the unit and continued to yell abuse, the court heard, with the victim using her phone to record him.

In relation to the second public nuisance and the breach of bail, he was on bail with a condition that he not consume alcohol.

Joseph Peter Mckenna outside Maryborough Courthouse.

Neighbours had heard his swearing and belligerent behaviour at his unit complex, the court was told.

When McKenna, who was referred to as an alcoholic during the court appearance, was breath tested by police, he returned a reading of .278.

The court heard Mckenna was currently receiving a disability support pension after being diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

He had turned to alcohol after a close friend of his died and he was diagnosed with depression, the court was told.

Magistrate John Milburn placed Mckenna on 12 months probation.

In addition, Mckenna was ordered to keep a distance from his neighbour and not to contact her for two years.

Convictions were recorded.