Jarred Matthews sentenced for death threats to NSW Police Minister David Elliott

The 25-year-old made death threats to the Police Minister over Facebook in June. He was sentenced on Friday.

Matthews made death threats against NSW Police MInister David Elliott Picture: NCA NewsWire / James Gourley

A Lake Macquarie man, who pleaded guilty to sending death threats to NSW Police Minister David Elliott, has escaped harsh penalty with a conditional release order (CRO).

Jarred Darrell Matthews, 25, was sentenced to the two-year order at Belmont Local Court on Friday for four charges including using a carriage service to threaten to kill, possession of cannabis and a prescribed restriction substance — alprazolm — and possession of a ‘gel gun’.

Jarred Matthews received a CRO for death threats against the NSW Police Minister Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles

He had one charge of possessing an unauthorised prohibited firearm dropped.

Matthews made threats to the Police Minister over Facebook on June 7.

It’s understood Mr Elliott received dozens of Facebook messages from voters that weekend — including several abusive messages.

He was arrested a day later at a Belmont address after an alert was raised.

During the search, detectives found cannabis, medication without a prescription, two gel blasters and ammunition which were seized for forensic examination.

photos of gel blasters and ammunition found at the home of a man charged over a death threat to David Elliott. Credit: NSW Police

Gel blasters found at Matthews residence. Credit: NSW Police

In an unrelated incident, Mr Elliott’s electoral office was also vandalised the same weekend of the protest with the word “resign” written in graffiti.

It came after Mr Elliott declared police would refuse to authorise any further large protests during the COVID-19 pandemic.