Alleged threats left Inner West Council CEO ‘genuinely scared’
The chief executive of an inner city Sydney council said he felt “genuinely scared” of a solicitor charged with allegedly harassing staff over a fence DA.
Inner West
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- Court hears staff ‘harassed’ over fence decision
- Lawyer fighting harassment charges over fence dispute
High profile council chief executive Michael Deegan took out an apprehended violence order against a Sydney solicitor whose alleged threats made him “genuinely scared”, a court has heard.
Mr Deegan made the admission at the hearing of Annandale-based legal practitioner Jonathan Bolton on Thursday, who is charged with the alleged harassment and intimidation of 10 Inner West Council staff.
The charges stem from a bitter feud with a neighbour over a fence development application approved by the former Leichhardt Council in 2016, with Bolton alleged to have made over 190 emails and calls made to Mr Deegan and others between February 2018 and July 2019.
The 57-year-old is representing himself and has pleaded not guilty, instead turning the focus to what he claims has been a “corrupt” council process.
Under new bail conditions Bolton is banned from contacting any officer at Inner West Council in regards to the fence and ongoing court matter, or attending council service centres.
During questioning from police prosecutor Lachlan Kirby, former Infrastructure Australia boss Mr Deegan recounted his reaction to the four-minute message left for him on June 19, 2019.
In the recording played in court Bolton likens his repeated attempts to “hold a public figure to account” to the community’s reaction to “the raids on the ABC”, and at one point said he hoped Mr Deegan was “enjoying listening to this”.
Bolton had been informed prior to the call that he was not to contact council staff after relentless messages, the court had previously heard.
“We pay his wages through our rates, he doesn’t have the right to refused to meet with me, hang up on me … or act in a corrupt manner,” he was heard to say.
Bolton was arrested on June 23, 2019 after Mr Deegan filed a complaint with Glebe police the day before.
Mr Deegan said the call was “quite distressing” and that he took his role as a public servant “very seriously”.
“I felt quite intimidated by the tone and repetition of abuse that was directed at me,” he said.
Mr Deegan said an incident when he observed Bolton’s car while walking to the bus on Norton St, Leichhardt, following several alleged threats, shook him.
“I’m no shrinking violet, Your Honour,” he told Magistrate Phillip Stewart.
“(This) was the only time in my life I’ve felt genuinely scared.”
Mr Deegan said the council had employed extra security at its Leichhardt office because staff had raised concerns about Bolton’s alleged actions.
“We don’t know what he’s capable of doing,” he said.
Bolton denied Mr Deegan’s characterisation of his interactions with staff.
“You are nothing but a troublemaker, Mr Deegan,” he said.
The hearing continues.
