Ned Hajdukovic sentenced for Batemans Bay intimidation
A builder who took matters into his own hands after hundreds of dollars worth of tools were allegedly taken from his partly-built home has been slammed for his “vigilante-style” justice.
The South Coast News
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A Batemans Bay man who threatened to crack a man’s skull open amid a dispute over allegedly stolen tools has been told his “nasty and frightening” vigilantism would not go unpunished.
Ned Hajdukovic, 52, of Catalina pleaded guilty at Batemans Bay Local Court on Monday to two counts of intimidation, as well as entering a building with intent to commit an indictable offence.
Serbian-born Hajdukovic was partly through construction of his new home when, he claimed, hundreds of dollars worth in tools and jewellery were stolen by a male neighbour who resided with his mother.
On May 2, the man’s mother was home alone when she heard loud car noises and shouting outside.
The woman recognised Hajdukovic’s car in the driveway before he entered the house through the side door and approached her in the bedroom about 1.20pm.
Court documents state he started shouting about stolen tools saying “I’m going to have your son jailed for ten years”, and “I’ve got his stuff with his fingerprints on it, he owes me $600”.
Hajdukovic then claimed the woman’s son was a “junky” and asked why she let him “shoot up everyday”.
The woman was frightened, and when Hajdukovic left she called her son for help.
At the time, the son was returning to Catalina by car with his father.
As they neared home, they spotted Hajdukovic‘s Holden Commodore coming the other direction.
When Hajdukovic stopped his car and approached the victim, the victim told his father to “go, dad, go”. Hajdukovic then followed the car for a short distance.
Shortly after, the pair pulled over and Hajdukovic pulled up beside them, and a “heated argument” began through the car windows.
Hajdukovic shouted at the pair about the return of his tools, saying “I’m gonna crack your f-----g skull open and take you to the cop shop”.
A week later, the son ran into Hajdukovic again while riding his bike in Batehaven, court documents state.
Entering a service station, the son was approached by Hajdukovic, who said: “F--k your mum”.
Appearing at Batemans Bay Local Court on Monday, Haudkovic’s solicitor Lisa Stone said her client had gone to the house because of a text he had received from the victim following the robbery, sparking the ensuing events.
“It was obviously a nasty and frightening incident, but should be taken in context,” she said.
“He had been burglarised. He went to the house to have a conversation.”
Furthermore, Ms Stone alleged the victim had contacted Hajdukovic, leaving multiple texts and voicemails.
In one voicemail, she claimed the victim had said to Hajdukovic: “F--k you, you p---y.”
A representative of the NSW Department of Public Prosecution criticised Hajdukovic for attending the house.
“Its accepted the genesis of the offending was the theft of the tools,” the DPP representative said.
“But, what he resorted to was vigilante-style.”
In sentencing, Magistrate Doug Dick said Hajdukovic had been cooperative with court officials.
“You have tried hard, but this sort of behaviour cannot go unpunished,” he said.
Hajdukovic was sentenced to pay $4000 in fines.
He will also serve a two year community corrections order.
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