Shane Pappin brandishes axe, smashes windows, makes violent threats against terrified Mildura woman

A Mildura man armed with an axe terrorised a woman, smashing windows, threatening arson, before bizarrely claiming he missed a court appearance as he had no phone or sense of time.

Shane Pappin charged at a woman brandishing an axe before smashing the lounge room window of the house she fled to, a court heard. Picture: Generic

An axe-wielding Mildura man who charged at a terrified woman and smashed the window of a property claims he missed court because he has no sense of time because he doesn’t have a phone.

Shane Pappin fronted Mildura Magistrates’ Court to plead guilty to multiple charges including wilful damage, threatening to destroy property, possession of a weapon and failure to answer bail.

The court heard that in March 2024, Pappin, 19, ran at a woman while brandishing an axe. The victim and a friend retreated inside before Pappin smashed the lounge room window of the property where they sought refuge.

Magistrate Michael Coghlan dismissed Pappin’s claim he had no sense of time because he didn’t have a phone and that is why he had failed to appear at court on multiple occasions

On another occasion, he threatened the same victim over the phone, claiming he had burned some of her belongings and people were coming to set her house on fire.

When questioned by police, Pappin initially denied the threats but quickly changed his story.

“I never said (I’d burn her house down). Well, I did say it, but they already had their stuff,” Mr Pappin told police.

When Pappin was arrested on a Mildura street in March of this year, he was found to be in possession of a hatchet, machete and a handsaw inside his backpack.

His lawyer Sasha Tuliakiono told the court her client’s life had spiralled and he was battling a severe methamphetamine addiction but had been clean for three days.

Pappin’s lawyer told the court he had a debilitation meth addiction and was determined to get clean. Picture: Generic

“It is his goal to remain abstinent from drugs,” Ms Tuliakiono said.

Ms Tuliakiono added her client struggled to manage court dates, and that is why he had failed to appear so many times — a notion scoffed at by Magistrate Michael Coghlan.

“You’re talking nonsense Mr Pappin. Please. You’re full of excuses,” Mr Coghlan said.

Pappin received a 12-month community corrections order, including assessments for drug counselling and reoffending prevention programs. He will also be supervised by a community corrections officer.

Mr Coghlan further ordered Pappin to complete 60 hours of unpaid community work.