Alan James Cobill sentenced over intimidation, firearm offences at Picton Local Court

A man who told an ex partner her friends “would be buried” if they stood up for her and that everyone in his family was watching her has learnt his fate. Here’s what the magistrate had to say.

A man who told an ex partner her friends “would be buried” if they stood up for her and that everyone in his family was watching her has learnt his fate.

Alan James Cobill, 25, fronted Picton Local Court on Friday for sentencing after pleading guilty to two counts of stalk or intimidate intending to cause fear of physical harm, possessing an unauthorised pistol, possessing an unauthorised firearm and two counts of possessing a prohibited unauthorised firearm.

According to the agreed facts, the Bargo man went to collect some belongings from the home of an ex-partner on October 11, 2020 at Picton. The woman had asked two friends to be there when he came by.

When Cobill saw the pair on the other side of the road he began yelling “p---y dogs, c--ts, f--kwits” and calling the pair “dead men walking”, adding ”youse f--ked up I’ve seen your number plates”.

One of the friends became scared and then Cobill walked over and leaned his head inside the window before the pair said they didn’t want to start anything.

The court documents said as Cobill walked away he said “If I ever see your car parked in my driveway, I will come in and I will punch your teeth out” which was recorded by the ex on her phone.

Cobill then said to her “You think that they have something on me. You’re kidding yourself. I’ll kill them right now, I don’t give a f--k”.

After Cobill left the property he sent his ex a message that said “Have fun with your 2 prophetic losers that were shaking in the seats with tears in their eyes sobbing like f--king bunny rabbits … actually thinking they would have stood up to me … dreaming. for you”.

The agreed facts said Cobill then messaged her and said “They would be buried right now and they well knew it and always will … someone’s always watching, well at least everyone in my family”.

On October 13, the woman and her friend reported the matter to police. The next day officers searched his home address and found firearms including black and silver gel blasters.

In court on Friday, solicitor John Stoneham said his client was a young man with no violent matters on his record.

“The intimidation offences that Mr Cobill pleaded guilty occurred on one single date in a short space of time,” she said.

“There has been no other offending. Mr Cobill spent a period of eight months and 25 days in custody.”

Alan James Cobill. Picture: Annie Lewis

Mr Stoneham said that Cobill had always been employed, apart from when he was in custody. He added that of the firearms found, none of them were “in true sense of being a firearm” such as the luger gel blaster which is an “imitation firearm”.

“Mr Cobill didn’t duck or weave or hide from police at all … police called him, he gave them consent to enter his bedroom,” Mr Stoneham said.

“He’s come home [from prison], he’s gone back to work and has made sustainable efforts to rehabilitate himself.”

A representative for the Director of Public Prosecutions said the conduct displayed was “serious”, and the guilty pleas were not early but rather after extended negotiations.

“It’s acknowledged that the offender has taken steps towards rehabilitation,” she said.

“The court will also acknowledge that the offender in … has shown an ability for these kind of acts … he has proven that he can do this.”

Magistrate Mark Douglass said Cobill was being sentenced for a raft of matters that were “relatively serious”.

“I accept that this particular offender has not like priors and in my view has indicated remorse contrition and insight,” he said.

“I am willing to accept that he should be entitled to a discount of around 15 per cent.”

Magistrate Douglass said being caught with a gel blaster was a serious offence as it had the potential to cause significant fear if not harm.

Cobill was sentenced to a seven-month intensive community corrections order to start from July 22, and has also been placed on multiple community corrections orders the longest of which will run for 18 months.

He has also been fined $1000 and will need to complete 200 hours of community service.