Court: Stafford Craig jailed for threatening to kill Shepparton woman

A thug with a shocking history of violence broke into a Shepparton woman’s home and threatened to kill her with a meat cleaver.

Convicted killer Stafford Craig held a meat cleaver to his victim’s throat.

A convicted killer broke into a Shepparton woman’s home, imprisoned her and threatened to kill her while he hovered over her bed with a meat cleaver poised at her throat.

Stafford Craig, 53, was sentenced to two years’ and nine months’ jail in the Shepparton County Court after he pleaded guilty to threatening to kill, false imprisonment, aggravated burglary and assault.

Craig, who appeared via video link from Fulham Correctional Centre, demanded the victim open the front door of her home on November 7, 2023, before he tried to get in by the front window by pushing it sideways.

He then kicked the front door multiple times and continued to yell at the victim, telling her to “open the door”.

Craig, of Shepparton. then attempted to push the door open using his hands and body while the victim was screaming for help from inside the Shepparton home.

After another kick, Craig forced the door open by charging at it with his shoulder and went inside, as the victim repeatedly yelled “Don’t”.

Craig made the victim stay upstairs and imprisoned her overnight.

Stafford Craig was sentenced to two years’ and nine months’ prison in the Shepparton County Court.

During the night, Craig pushed the victim onto a bed, held a meat cleaver to her throat and told her he would kill her.

He also punched the victim in the face and head, which left her with bleeding on her ear, a cut on her nose and bruising on her forehead.

Craig also strangled his victim twice, which left her with difficulties swallowing and breathing.

The next day while Craig was in the laundry, the victim escaped and went to a friend’s house where she called triple-0.

Judge John Kelly said that it must have been a “terrifying ordeal” for the victim.

The court heard that Craig’s offending was influenced by his alcohol dependency, lack of housing, drug use and lack of employment.

Judge Kelly told the court Craig had a difficult upbringing of “significant degradation and violence” and that he was sentenced for murder in Victoria at the age of 27, for which he received a jail term of 15 years.

Judge Kelly told the court Craig had spent decades in and out of custody, but noted his lawyer Lauren Bull said rehabilitation was possible.

The court heard Craig grew up in Queensland and moved to South Australia as a youngster.

Craig must serve at least 14 months in prison before he is eligible for parole.