Adam Tisdell: Dubbo man sentenced for threat to kill woman

A fridge repairman who threatened to drag a woman out of a house by her hair if she hurt someone he knew has a history of domestic violence, a court has heard.

A Dubbo man who left a voicemail message threatening to kill a woman has been convicted and fined in court, with a Magistrate describing his conduct as “abhorrent”.

Adam Ross Tisdell pleaded guilty to one count of using a carriage service to threaten to kill and one count of intimidation when he appeared before Dubbo Local Court on Wednesday.

Dubbo man Adam Tisdell received a conviction and fine after he made a threat to kill a woman. Picture: Facebook/Adam Tisdell

In court documents police said the 48-year-old said “you hurt my … and I will f****** kill you, f****** slag” to the woman on October 27 after officers had dealt with a domestic violence incident at the woman’s home.

The threats were made in a voicemail message Tisdell left on the woman’s phone.

According to police, the woman noticed she had a missed call from Tisdell so she sent him a text message which said “feel free to text”.

Tisdell responded, telling the woman not to hurt a person he knew.

“I’ve asked police to charge you with assault. If you hurt …. again I will drag you out by your hair and do the same to you,” Tisdell said.

Police said Tisdell’s messages left the woman fearing he would kill her.

The day after the messages were sent, Tisdell went to Dubbo police station and made full admissions.

In court, defence lawyer Jai Silkman said before Tisdell made the threats he received a disturbing phone call which led him to fear for the safety of the person who was with the woman.

“He could hear screaming over the phone,” Mr Silkman told the court.

“He understands and completely accepts it was the wrong thing to say.”

Magistrate Stephen Olischlager described Tisdell’s conduct as “abhorrent”.

“A threat to kill someone is the worst threat to someone you can make,” he said.

“I don’t know how you could make a threat like that … it’s almost a controlling behaviour … it’s just unacceptable.”

Magistrate Olischlager said while he accepted Tisdell was in an “emotional position” when the threats were made, responding with threats of violence was not something that “any man should ever do”.

“There is a history of violence that goes back to the ’90s, including domestic violence offences,” Magistrate Olischlager said of Tisdell’s record.

“It is pleasing to see there has been quite clear break in conduct.”

Tisdell was convicted and fined $1000.