Tommy Lee Wilson: Stockyard Creek man sentenced at Grafton Local Court

A northern NSW traffic controller threatened to kill and shoot his father in an outburst sparked by a confrontation over drug use.

Tommy Wilson was convicted at Grafton Local Court.

After a heated argument, a Clarence Valley traffic controller levelled a terrifying series of threats at his father, at various points stating “I’ll kill you”, “I’ll shoot you” and “I’ll bash the sh*t out of you”, a court heard.

Stockyard Creek man Tommy Wilson, 25, appeared at Grafton Local Court on Monday when he pleaded guilty to intimidation with the intention to cause fear of physical or mental harm.

Documents tendered to court lay out what triggered 25-year-old’s shocking outburst on the morning of March 11.

At the time Wilson was living with his father who was concerned about his son’s drug usage and asked him to move out of the house if he continued to take drugs, the court heard.

“(Wilson then) became aggressive and started forcefully dragging a cupboard across the hardwood floor of the premises, creating a large gouge in the timber,” police facts state.

Tommy Lee Wilson outside Grafton Local Court.

“(He then) went outside and began causing damage to the door to a shed, attempting to physically pull the door off its hinges.”

During this time, Wilson made a series of threats towards his father, stating: “I’ll kill you”, “I’ll shoot you”, “I’ll bash the sh*t out of you” and “I’m going to follow you when you leave”, the court heard.

According to court documents, Wilson told police: “I don’t make threats, I make promises. If I say it, it’s a promise.”

Wilson’s lawyer Matilda Lynch said her client had only one other matter on his criminal record, adding he was released from custody in 2020.

Since that time he had secured employment and now has a young family.

Tommy Wilson after he received an 18-month community correction order.

Ms Lynch told the court Wilson had a difficult childhood and had made appointments to see a psychologist since his offending in March.

“Mr Wilson understands there is a big problem … he bottles (his emotions) up until the bottle pops,” Ms Lynch said.

Magistrate Juliana Crofts said the police facts did not “make for very pleasant reading”.

“These are things which are calculated to put the victim in fear,” Ms Crofts said, referring to Wilson’s threats and how he damaged property at the house.

She convicted Wilson and sentenced him to an 18-month community correction order, with the additional requirement he complete 40 hours of community service.