Trey Copeland: Goonellabah man faces Lismore Local Court for stalking charge

A Goonellabah man threw the homemade petrol bomb after his mother reprimanded him about his drinking.

Trey Copeland was sentenced in Lismore Local Court on Monday. Picture: Facebook

A Goonellabah man who threw a molotov cocktail at his mother’s house after she reprimanded him about his drinking has been sentenced.

Trey Copeland, 21, faced Lismore Local Court on Monday pleading guilty to stalking/intimidating his mother.

According to the police fact sheet, an “intoxicated” Copeland was walking home around 2.45am on July 17 when his yelling drew the attention of his next-door neighbour and mother.

Concerned his behaviour could turn violent, his mother called to him and the pair ended up in a verbal argument.

Copeland then headed home but his mother could still hear him talking to himself on his veranda.

When she looked outside, she saw her son making a molotov cocktail with toilet paper and a jerry can.

According to the fact sheets, she heard him exclaim ‘God is not going to save you’, and became fearful for her safety.

Copeland then lit the petrol bomb and threw it towards his mum’s house.

A small grass fire was lit and the Lismore Fire Brigade was called.

During sentencing, Copeland’s solicitor Katherine Brady said her client would seek rehabilitation following the outcome.

“He tells me anytime he gets into trouble, there’s alcohol involved,” she said.

Magistrate Jeff Linden said the incident was aggravated by the fact another relative was home at the time.

“It made the victim, understandably, extremely scared,” she said.

“Thankfully, it didn't go through the house.”

Magistrate Linden convicted Copeland and sentenced him to a nine-month Intensive Correction Order.

He also sentenced Copeland to a two-year AVO for the protection of his mother.