Ashley Dooley: Shepparton-Mooroopna shirtless bush man gets jail time for kill threats on riverbank
A shirtless man who terrorised walkers along the track between Shepparton and Mooroopna by jumping out, screaming abuse and brandishing a big stick, was living on the riverbank at the time of the attacks.
Goulburn Valley
Don't miss out on the headlines from Goulburn Valley. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A shirtless homeless man living on the riverbank, who terrorised walkers on the bike track between Shepparton and Mooroopna by screaming and brandishing a big lump of wood, will serve jail time.
Ashley Dooley, 47, who lived on the riverbank between Mooroopna and Shepparton, was charged with making threats to kill, using threatening words in a public place and assault after harassing multiple people on a Sunday morning in April.
Among the incidents, the Shepparton Magistrates’ Court heard a shirtless Dooley called a male victim a “white c**nt” while raising his right hand to stop him from passing about 11:45am on April 26.
The court heard Dooley then grabbed the victim’s face while “ranting and raving”, before ripping the victim’s glasses off and throwing them on the ground, causing the lenses to fly out of the frames.
He then threatened to kill the man as he picked up his glasses, and continued verbally abusing him as he walked away.
The court heard the victim, who was left with a small graze on his arm and bruising, was afraid he could actually kill him.
Dooley also yelled at a family riding their bikes from the edge of the track, and ran out of the bush at another couple while “aggressively” brandishing a large stick.
Police later went to the walking track and chased Dooley around the bushland, where they tasered him after a standoff, the court was told.
Dooley was taken to the police station, but was not able to be interviewed due to his aggressive state, which included threatening to kill police and spitting on the walls and cameras in a cell.
At the time of offending, Dooley was on bail for other charges dating back to February, including possession of cartridge ammunition and cannabis.
Dooley’s defence lawyer said he was an Aboriginal man with a lengthy history of mental illness and substance abuse after enduring family violence as a child.
The lawyer said Dooley has been medicated since being taken into custody, and had seen a significant improvement in his mental health.
Magistrate Frances Medina said while Dooley’s mental health history was a mitigating factor, she was concerned about his drug abuse and his instability while in the community.
“I’m pleased to hear that you‘ve stabilised in custody … and you’re in a far better place,” she said.
“My concern … is the danger you pose to innocent members of the community going about their business, and how distressing and frightening your presentation is.”
Dooley was sentenced to 12 months in prison minus the time already served, and will be released in the first half of next year.
Check out more stories at The Goulburn Valley News here
Want to become a digital subscriber? Join now on our latest offer here
Like us on Facebook here
Contact Madi Chwasta at madi.chwasta@news.com.au
MORE GOULBURN VALLEY NEWS
SHEPPARTON’S TOP 10 MOST INFLUENTIAL
THE CRIMES THAT SHOCKED GOULBURN VALLEY
WHY THESE GOULBURN VALLEY EYESORES MUST GO
SHEPPARTON RIDERS ‘HEARTBROKEN’ AFTER JUMPS DESTROYED
WHY SHEPPARTON IS THE KEBAB CAPITAL OF AUSTRALIA
GOULBURN VALLEY A FRUITFUL PROPERTY OPPORTUNITY
COBRAM HAIRDRESSER’S ALLEGED DRUGS SHAME