Atif Kodi pleads guilty to a string of offences at the Shepparton Magistrates’ Court

A Shepparton man has gone on wild crime spree attacking a housemate, stealing booze and threatening to kill a customer at Woolworths.

Atif Kodi appeared at the Shepparton Magistrates' Court this week where the court heard he bashed his roommate and told another victim he would “kill him and his family”. Picture: Photographer: Helder Almeida

An unemployed man punched up his roommate because they didn’t pay rent and told a man he would “kill him and his family” in front of terrified Woolworths customers.

Atif Kodi pleaded guilty at the Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday to unlawful assault, possess a dangerous article, intentionally cause serious injury, commit an indictable offence while on bail, possess controlled weapon without excuse, use threatening words in a public place, make threat to kill, possess cocaine, contravene a conduct condition of bail and fail to answer bail.

The court heard Kodi also has an “unaddressed” drug addiction to methylamphetamine.

The court heard the 35-year-old was living with a housemate in Broadmeadows when on May 2 last year he punched her in the face after yelling at her about paying rent.

Kodi continued by kicking her in the left thigh, back, ribs, bruised her left eye and had her belongings scattered.

Police later arrived and found Kodi with a screwdriver in his right sock, using it to defend himself in case he was attacked by the victim.

“She’s not paying her rent so I kicked her out and I bashed her,” Kodi told police at the time.

He was arrested and made full admissions to police, the court heard.

The victim had lived with Kodi for six months and had not paid rent — so Kodi told her to “pay some money today or move out”.

Kodi also said he was “struck” by the victim first.

In another incident on January 26 this year, the court heard Kodi approached another victim in Craigieburn and told them, “I’ll knock you down and I’ll kill you” and spat on them after accusing them of calling triple-0 on his neighbours which resulted in his cousin going to prison.

The feared victim called triple-0 and police arrived to find Kodi in a silver Honda Accord and was immediately and verbally aggressive to officers.

They found scissors in Kodi’s pants, multiple “nang” canisters, a knuckle cluster and a steak knife in his car and was arrested for making a threat to kill, the court heard.

Kodi punched his roommate after they didn’t pay rent and threatened to kill two men. Picture: Jack Colantuono

On February 18 this year, Kodi entered the Craigieburn Plaza and caused issues with staff and customers in Woolworths.

Kodi was seen holding a pair of scissors and his next victim attempted stop him.

“F**k off I’m going to kill you and your family,” Kodi said to the victim.

Later, he entered a BWS store in the centre and stole a 750ml bottle of chardonnay and repeated the theft shortly after, the court heard.

Kodi was seen “slumped” down with the two wine bottles broken nearby, a small bag of white powder assumed to be cocaine and scissors in his left sock.

Kodi was arrested and was deemed “unfit” to be interviewed.

His defence lawyer Caitlin Blakeney told the court Kodi had been exposed to trauma throughout his life and lost his brother in 2008.

She mentioned substance abuse was a challenge for him and it was a connection to his PTSD — which has “impacted” his decision making.

“Given his criminal history he does need to be sent a clear message — this type of behaviour is unacceptable,” Magistrate Alexandra Burt said.

“I don’t see him taking the steps himself — he stopped attending court and disengaged.”

Kodi will be assessed for a Community Corrections Order and will return to court later this month.