Man raised knife, made threats to kill

A GRAFTON man has told a magistrate he wouldn’t last a day in prison, after receiving a 12-month suspended sentence for domestic violence charges.

A GRAFTON man has told a magistrate he wouldn't last a day in prison, after recieving a 12 month suspended sentence for domestic violence charges.

Luke Wood pleaded guilty to three domestic violence-related charges of destroy/damage property, stalk and/or intimidate and being armed with intent at Grafton Local Court this week.

All three charges were related to incidents which took place at a house in South Grafton on February 8.

According to police facts, threatened to kill the victim and her family during an argument, and while in a rage punched two large holes in the rear walls of the house.

The victim later set up a bed for him in the lounge, and when the argument re-started 30 minutes later the accused grabbed a large kitchen knife and with his hand above his shoulder pointed it toward the victim.

She called Triple Zero, and police said in a statement that by the time they arrived the victim and a witness who was in the house at the time were in a "terrified state".

Appearing on behalf of Wood, solicitor Greg Coombes said the 24-year-old initially disputed some facts in the matter but had since accepted what had happened, noting he hadn't touched a drop of alcohol since the offences.

He also said there had been a dysfunctional relationship in the lead-up to the offences.

Magistrate David Heilpern acknowledged Wood had made efforts to correct his behaviour since the incident, but said if it wasn't for the plea of guilty he would be serving jail-time.

"You need to sort this out," he said.

"It could well be to be a person who doesn't drink. I know it seems revolutionary but there are plenty of people who don't drink at all and by the look of your record you need to be one of them."

Wood was issued a suspended sentence of 12 months, before being asked by Magistrate Heilpern how long he thought he'd last in jail.

"Not a day", he replied.

Heilpern agreed.

Originally published as Man raised knife, made threats to kill