Blue Mountains: Tomas Eugene Pratt charged after alleged crossbow incident

A 49-year-old man who allegedly pointed a loaded crossbow at his stepfather and threatened to kill him has faced court as new details emerge. Read the latest.

Police responded to a call at a Blue Mountains home on Friday night.

A 49-year-old man who allegedly pointed a loaded crossbow at his stepfather and threatened to kill him has been denied bail.

Tomas Eugene Pratt faced Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday after he was arrested in the Blue Mountains on Friday night for allegedly pointing a crossbow at his stepfather at their Wentworth Falls home earlier that evening.

Mr Pratt was charged with possess prohibited weapon, armed with intent, and breach apprehended domestic violence order. He is yet to enter a plea.

The court was told on Saturday Mr Pratt had allegedly been living at the Elizabeth Dr home with his mother and stepfather, which was in breach of a domestic violence order made in June.

Mr Pratt’s stepfather had come home on Friday night to allegedly find Mr Pratt with the weapon pointed directly at him, saying “I’m going to kill you”.

The victim claimed to have heard a “click” but nothing fired, and when the weapon was later found by police it was still loaded.

Pratt was arrested after a search which included PolAir and the Tactical Operations Unit, more than five hours after the alleged incident.

The court was told Mr Pratt told his lawyer his mother had recently been diagnosed with cancer, which had triggered a “breakdown” and he turned to alcohol.

Tomas Pratt allegedly pointed a loaded bow at his stepfather. Picture: Social media

It was further alleged that Mr Pratt had repeatedly asked his mother and stepfather to borrow their car, which they always refused, and this may have played a role in the alleged offending.

Mr Pratt claimed in court the weapon was not a crossbow, but a regular compound bow and therefore not a prohibited weapon.

He said this bow did not have a trigger, unlike a normal crossbow, but the court was told the weapon found by police had bolts in it, which is more consistent with a crossbow than a regular bow.

The court was told Mr Pratt, who works as a contractor bricklayer, had a criminal history peppered with stalk and intimidation offences, with the most concerning entry being that of animal cruelty.

The court was told Mr Pratt had previously been compliant with past supervision orders, having completed community service hours and attending six out of 10 sessions for mental health counselling, and up until the incident, had abstained from alcohol.

But the risks of allowing Mr Pratt back into the community was deemed too high, and his bail was denied.

He will face Katoomba Local Court on September 2 for further mention.