Malcolm Leonard Caden: Pleads guilty to stalk intimidate to cause fear

Parents of an army veteran feared for their safety when they found him in the kitchen with a samurai sword, unaware of what he was capable of under the influence of drugs.

A Pottsville army veteran has found himself in court after his parents called the police on him fearing for their safety.

Malcolm Leonard Caden, 36, pleaded guilty in Tweed Heads Local Court on Tuesday to charges of attempting to stalk or intimidate intending to cause fear of harm.

According to court papers Caden’s parents were woken by him in the kitchen yelling “get out you’re not supposed to be here” while holding a samurai sword on the night of March 15.

They told him to go to bed.

Later his mum was up getting ready for work and saw he had thrown items everywhere and was still yelling.

She saw he had attempted to get the car keys which she had hidden fearing for his safety.

He started screaming at her to take him to a doctors appointment which he never had. He said “give me my f***ing keys I’ll call the cops on you for stealing my property”

She called the police.

He was taken to Tweed police station and refused interview.

His parents said they feared for their safety as they were not sure what he was capable of under the influence of drugs.

In court a second charge of failing to appear was dismissed after it was proved he had been in hospital on the date of his court appearance.

Magistrate Bugden noted Caden had some mental health issue after leaving the army eight and a half years ago.

He convicted and sentenced Caden to a 18 month community corrections order with accept supervision, guidance, directions, help and advice regarding treatment for mental health.