Armando Sartorio faces court after claiming he would get a ’slap on the wrist’

An elderly Inverloch man has faced court after he trapped a locksmith in his backyard and threatened to “break his knees” with a baseball bat.

An elderly man who imprisoned a tradie in his backyard and threatened him with a baseball bat and a garden chair has been let off with good behaviour.

Armando Sartorio, 73, appeared in the Korumburra Magistrates court on Monday where he pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and other threats charges.

Sartorio found himself in court after he called a locksmith to his Inverloch home about 10pm on day in May last year to open the door of the bungalow which his daughter was living in.

The court heard Sartorio was concerned for the welfare of his daughter, while she was locked inside the bungalow.

When the locksmith arrived and began working on the lock, Sartorio was standing close to him and heckling him about getting the job done.

The locksmith “politely” asked him to stand back so he could do his job.

In reaction to this Sartorio became enraged and began verbally abusing the locksmith.

“You’re not leaving, fix the f***ing door,” Sartorio yelled to the 29-year-old victim, while blocking him from exiting the property, the court heard.

During this altercation the victim began recording a video on his phone.

Sartorio then picked up a nearby garden chair and began threatening the victim with it, threatening to “break [his] knees”.

Armando Sartorio, 73, appeared in the Korumburra Magistrates court on Monday where he plead guilty to false imprisonment and other threats charges.

Sartorio’s son, woken by the racket occurring outside, came out and took his father inside.

The court heard a short time later the victim also entered the house in an attempt to leave the property.

Once inside the victim was faced with Sartorio holding a baseball bat over his shoulder.

The victim ran outside into the backyard and Sartorio followed him, shouting threats such as “I will smash your van”, and “I am going to break your legs”.

Being trapped in the backyard, the victim called then called the police.

A few days later Sartorio was arrested and the court heard he told police he had “wanted to put fear in him” but he hadn’t threatened to break his legs, only threatened to “put him in hospital”.

He told police he wanted to go to court as he believed he would be let off with a “slap on the wrist”.

Defence submitted Sartorio had been concerned for the welfare of his daughter and didn’t want the victim to leave without opening the door.

They also said Sartorio suffered from bipolar disorder.

Prosecutor Tim Cavanagh said if Sartorio was that concerned about his daughter’s welfare, police could have been called to force entry.

Magistrate Tim Walsh said Sartorio’s behaviour was “unacceptable” and “over the top”.

He was placed on a good behaviour bond and ordered to pay $500 to the court fund.