Daniel Gatt: Gippsland man sentenced over ‘revenge’ attack with homemade bomb at Sale

A Gippsland man blew up a woman’s car on his 45th birthday during a “foolish” and “reckless” act of revenge, a court has heard.

A Gippsland man celebrated his 45th birthday by blowing up a woman’s car during a revenge attack at Sale last year, a court has heard.

Daniel Gatt, 46, was given a community corrections order in County Court on Monday after he earlier pleaded guilty to causing an explosion likely to endanger property and unsafe storage of ammunition.

The court heard the Gippsland man and his mate, Nathan Scott, used a homemade explosive to set a vehicle alight in a residential area.

Gatt was celebrating his birthday on the night of June 18, 2020 when he decided to get “revenge” on the owner of the vehicle who he believed was responsible for a burglary on his property.

An explosive, made out of a soft drink can, gunpowder, electrical tape and a sparkler, was found on the scene beside the victim’s scorched car.

In a police interview, Gatt described the night in little detail and said he “had quite a few drinks” and “did not remember” Scott attending his house.

Police discovered CCTV footage of the night during a search of Gatt’s property as well as discarded bullets, electrical tape and cannabis.

Judge Michael McInerney said Gatt’s participation in the “revenge” attack was “foolish”.

“It was foolish and reckless to be involved in such a serious crime,” he said.

“Albeit, it was your birthday, you drank so much you lost control.

“It boggles the mind how you were so stupid to commit these crimes.”

The court heard Gatt had previously “threatened to kill” the victim and blamed her for lost photos and a burglary on his property.

“It was committed with rage and revenge,” Mr Mcinerney said.

Gatt maintained his innocence and responded “no comment” in police interviews until Scott’s case was well underway.

He received a two-year community corrections order sentence under the conditions he is subject to treatment and rehabilitation for drug, alcohol and mental health.

He was charged separate fines for possession of cannabis, unlicensed and failure to store ammunition in a secure manner as well as explosion likely to endanger property.

Scott also received a two-year community corrections order in July.