Gregory Morris, BJ Taane in court charged over threatening to bash a man in Mayfield

A Mayfield man was threatened by a group of men who came to his house with a baton and metal pipe. Two Newcastle men were charged and have pleaded guilty to affray.

Gregory Morris (left) and BJ Taane (right) charged with affray after they threatened a man at Mayfield. Credit: facebook ID Amy Ziniak

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Two Newcastle men trying to get revenge over an incident days earlier, rocked up to a man’s house armed with a baton and a metal pipe, warning him he was going to “cop a flogging”, according to police facts.

Gregory Morris, 23, and BJ (Brent) Taane, 24, were part of a group of men who surprised a man asleep on the lounge at his Mayfield home on Silsoe St, January 8.

They believed just two days prior, he had bashed a teenager who Morris knew, following an altercation with a group of youths over whether he was friends with Shaun Johnson who lived on the street.

Gregory Morris was charged with affray after he threatened a man at a home in Mayfield. Credit: Facebook

Police allege Johnson stabbed friend Steve O’Brien in the neck during a boxing day party last year. He has been charged with murder and is before the courts.

Police facts said the victim, despite telling the group of teenagers he had nothing to do with Mr Johnson, was assaulted suffering a broken left hand and facial injuries.

Two days later Morris came to his door holding a small baton and threatened him.“You’re copping a flogging mate,” he said according to police facts.

Facebook image of stabbing victim Steve O'Brien, allegedly murdered by Shaun Johnson.

Scene on Silsoe street Mayfield where a man was stabbed on boxing day.

Despite the man trying to apologise over the incident, saying he and his partner were defending themselves after being attacked, Morris said he intended to bash him.

Taane was also standing behind Morris holding a metal pipe and repeated: “You’re going to cop a flogging mate’, according to police facts.

The man’s partner tried to calm the situation, persuading Morris to get out of the house, he did, but continued to threaten the man saying: “Just get him out of here, I’m gonna murder him (sic)”.

Eventually the commotion saw police called and both were arrested.

Morris pleaded guilty to affray and enter building with intent to commit an indictable offences, while Taane pleaded guilty to affray.

Morris had charges of aggravated enter dwelling armed, aggravated commit serious indictable offence, aggravated break and enter, attempt to intimidate and intimidation dropped. Taane also had a charge of aggravated enter dwelling armed dropped.

Both will be sentenced next month.

A third man also allegedly involved pleaded not guilty to charges of armed with intent to commit an indictable offence, affray and stalk and intimidate. He’ll face a hearing in November.