John Alto Dinatale faces Ballarat court over alleged false imprisonment, threat to kill

A person who was allegedly held against their will in a car in western Victoria locked themselves in a room with a knife for defence, a court has heard.

John Alto Dinatale allegedly kept a passenger in his car against their will for 40 minutes. Picture: File

A western Victorian motorist allegedly held a passenger in his car against their will because of an argument, with the passenger later locking themselves in a room with a knife for self defence, a court has heard.

John Alto Dinatale, 47, faced Ballarat Magistrates’ Court from custody on Wednesday and applied for bail.

Mr Dinatale faces more than a dozen charges, including making a threat to kill and false imprisonment.

The court heard that in May this year, Mr Dinatale was driving with a passenger near Bacchus Marsh and allegedly became “extremely angry and aggressive”.

A “heated argument” broke out in the car and Mr Dinatale allegedly pulled over on the Western Freeway, got out, and stood in the middle of the road where he threatened to self-harm.

He then allegedly drove his passenger around for 40 minutes, refusing to let them out of the car.

The passenger was eventually let out at a property and in fear of Mr Dinatale and barricaded themselves in a room with a knife.

On other occasions, Mr Dinatale allegedly threatened to kill a person over the phone and was allegedly caught driving with meth in his system.

He is also accused of sideswiping another person’s car in his ute and throwing a stone at the vehicle.

Magistrate Ron Saines said Mr Dinatale’s alleged behaviour would “scare the daylights out of people”.

He refused to grant bail and remanded Mr Dinatale in custody until his next hearing in August.