South Maitland: Brayden Pennell pleads guilty to assault and intimidation charges over drug debt

A court has heard how a man suffered three terrifying days of threats – including being knocked unconscious in his own cabin – by a man trying to recoup a small drug debt.

Brayden Pennell pleaded guilty in Newcastle Local Court. Supplied Amy Ziniak

A court has heard the extent of a man trying to recoup a $350 drug debt, which saw the victim aggressively intimidated over an intense three days including being knocked unconscious.

Court documents revealed Singleton man Brayden Pennell was ruthless for three days in his pursuit to get the man to pay up with constant threats to “f--k you up”.

Police facts said the 28-year-old had known the resident of the Coach Stop Caravan Park in South Maitland for about five months when he and another man, 34, stormed his cabin on April 1 last year and demanded he hand over $350 for drugs.

Court documents said after he was given $85 he demanded “you have two hours to give me the rest of the money” before the victim was struck to the back of the head by one of the men and lost consciousness.

Pennell came back the following day, with police facts detailing how he sat out the front of the victim’s residence.

Coachstop Caravan Park, South Maitland where the victim was threatened and assaulted.

“You have until midnight to find the money”, Pennell said, according to court documents.

“Yeah I will do my best, I can’t promise anything,” the man replied.

Police facts said Pennell returned about 2am the following morning while the victim was asleep, banged on the door and tried to open it.

“Come back at a decent hour, I don’t have the money,” the victim yelled.

Pennell returned again later that morning, stood in the driveway and yelled, “just f--king find it”.

The facts said, while the victim was getting help from others to try and move out of his cabin later that day, Pennell and the same man from the initial incident came back again with threats to pay back the money.

Pennell was arrested four days later as he rode his bicycle on Newton St in Singleton.

The 28-year-old pleaded guilty in Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday to assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company, enter dwelling with intent to commit a serious indictable offence – intimidation – knowing someone was inside and intimidation.

Charges of aggravated robbery and use violence to cause wounding, grievous bodily harm were withdrawn.

He’s been committed to Newcastle District Court next month for a sentence date to be set.