Harley Shipley threatened to kill mother of his child before assaulting a grandmother

A man called his ex 20 times and sent 57 abusive text messages before leading police on two high speed chases and threatening a grandmother with a knife.

Harley Shipley was sentenced in Wagga District Court on Thursday. Picture: Facebook

A 21-year-old father who made threats to kill the mother of his child, led police on multiple high speed pursuits and threatened a grandmother and her son with a knife will spend at least four years behind bars.

Harley Shipley was sentenced at Wagga District Court on Thursday after pleading guilty to one charge of intimidation, three charges of drive dangerous in police pursuit, one charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, one charge of aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence and one charge of take and drive motor vehicle without consent.

Court documents reveal Shipley’s 24-hour crime spree began in Dubbo on July 17 last year when he broke a apprehended domestic violence order by calling the mother of his child 20 times and threatening to kill her through 57 text messages.

“I’m gonna strangle you till you stop breathing …. you’re a f*****g s**t I’m gonna kill you tonight,” some of the messages said according to court documents.

Harley Shipley went on a 24-hour crime spree. Picture: Facebook

The woman feared for her safety and made a statement to police. Shortly after, police went to Shipley’s Gulgong home but he took off as officers approached his bedroom.

Court documents state he got behind the wheel of a Toyota Landcruiser and began driving towards Dubbo - reaching speeds of 120km/h through 60km/h and 50km/h zones before running a red light at the intersection of Darling and Cobra St with police in pursuit.

Shipley then dumped the car on Longarbardi St, Dubbo, before breaking into a woman’s Fitzroy St home about 1.30am.

He searched through the stranger’s home where her and two young children slept, and located the owner’s car keys and handbag, according to the court documents.

He then began loading the victim’s car with things from the house including a television, DVD player, drill, screwdriver, DVDs and various household items.

The woman, who was looking after her grandkids, woke up and approached him when he threatened her with a 20cm knife.

She tried to quickly close the front door but Shipley forced himself into the home before saying “shut up or I will stab you”. The victim’s grandchildren locked themselves in the toilet and messaged their dad to tell him someone was in the house.

The father arrived and approached Shipley, who said “who the f**k are you mate?” before the air got into a scuffle which ended when the grandmother hit Shipley over the head with a vaccum cleaner.

He then ran out the door and drove the victim’s Hyundai Accent through Dubbo again reaching speeds of 130km/h onto the wrong side of the road with police chasing him.

The pursuit was terminated for safety reasons and Shipley abandoned the car and went on to steal a Mazda Bravo a short time later, the court documents state.

At about 5pm that day, Shipley was located and arrested at the South Dubbo Tavern.

Fitzroy St, where the aggravated break and enter took place. Picture – Google Maps.

The court heard the mother of Shipley’s young child lived in fear about what he would do to her and was scared to go about her life.

While appearing via video link, Shipley blew kisses to and smirked at his estranged partner.

The court also heard Shipley suffered a range of mental health conditions including post traumatic stress disorder and an intellectual disability.

Judge Gordon Lerve told the court the man’s upbringing was one of the most extreme examples of dysfunction he had seen.

The court heard, Shipley was exposed to alcohol and drugs at four years old, began using cannabis at age nine and was using ice at 12.

Shipley was also moved from foster home to foster home due to behaviour issues and was placed in a mental health facility as a child.

Judge Lerve noted Shipley’s young age and reduced moral capability due to his background when handing down the sentence.

Shipley was sentenced to seven years in prison with a non-parole period of four years and three months.