John Michael Webber sentenced in Coffs Harbour court for death threats
A man has been sentenced in Coffs Harbour court for threatening to kill his ex-partner after a phone call about co-parenting turned sour.
Coffs Harbour
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An amicable phone call about co-parenting arrangements soon turned sour, ending in “vile threats” to kill, Coffs Harbour Local Court heard.
Magistrate Michael Dakin told the court these kinds of matters are regrettably “all too common”.
John Michael Webber was before the court charged with using a carriage service to threaten to kill; using a carriage service to menace/harass/offend; and contravene prohibition/restriction in an apprehended violence order (domestic).
On Tuesday, September 27, the court heard that Webber was undertaking the Magistrates Early Referral Into Treatment (MERIT) program following the incidents in March this year, but was then hit by a car, leaving him in a coma.
He required six surgical operations in seven days and attended court in a wheelchair with his leg still heavily bandaged.
The 41-year-old had been in an eight-year relationship with the victim but they were separated at the time of the offences and it was during a phone call about parenting arrangements on March 9 when the “vile” threat to kill was made.
Mr Dakin accepted that Webber was “heavily intoxicated” at the time of the “vile threats” and that he had willingly participated in the MERIT program before being hit by a car.
Mr Dakin told the court Webber - on March 29 when he was on bail - committed what could be considered an “even more serious offence” by contacting the victim and making a “thinly veiled attempt” to bring the matters to an end.
Webber was convicted on all three charges.
For using a carriage service to threaten to kill and for using a carriage service to menace/harass/offend he was ordered to serve an 18-month community corrections order.
For the charge of contravene prohibition/restriction in an apprehended violence order (domestic) he was ordered to serve a two-year community corrections order.
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