Swan Hill Magistrates’ Court: Patrick Rush pleads guilty to threatening to kill sex worker after city rendezvous

A one-armed Swan Hill man who sent threatening messages to a sex worker after sealing the deal has blamed his outrageous offending on his missing limb.

A one-armed Swan Hill man who threatened to kill a sex worker has blamed his sickening threats on his recently amputated arm.

Patrick Rush, 51, pleaded guilty in the Swan Hill Magistrates’ Court on November 16 to one charge of threats of serious injury and one charge of cannabis possession.

The court heard Rush had met with a registered sex worker on April 5 in Melbourne after messaging back and forth over a 24 hour period.

The pair met at a Melbourne address and spent a number of hours together before parting ways.

In a vile message read out to court, Rush threatened to violently assault the victim.

“I’m going to hunt you down you little b---h, and when I find you, which I will, you’re going to have blood leaking from your eyes, ears, nose and mouth,” he wrote.

“I’m going to stomp your ugly bald head into the kerb,” he continued.

“Looking forward to catching up.”

Patrick Rush pleaded guilty in Swan Hill Magistrates’ Court after threatening to kerb stomp a sex worker in a terrifying text message.

The victim reported the matter to police, and provided screenshots of the terrifying threats with Rush’s number.

The court heard Rush was arrested on September 22 at his Swan Hill home, where police also discovered small amounts of cannabis in ziplock bags.

In court on Thursday, Rush blamed his vile threats on a recent amputation and meth use.

The court heard Rush had lost his right arm in a farm accident 18 months before the message.

At the time of his offending, the court heard Rush had been taking prescription medication and had shared meth with the victim.

The court heard Rush was remorseful for his actions, and had “never intended to carry out” his threats.

Magistrate Sharon McRae said she found Rush’s offending difficult to comprehend.

“It’s hard to understand why you would say something like that to anyone,” she said.

“They’re awful remarks.”

Ms McRae said sex workers “deserve respect”.

“They’re a person doing a job. They’re running a business, it’s not personal to them. You made it personal, terribly personal,” she said.

“They deserve your respect.”

Ms McRae said she understood Rush was going through a “difficult time” but it didn’t justify his offending.

“You can’t reap your own misery onto other people, you simply can’t treat people this way,” she said.

“I’m very unhappy with the lack of respect you’ve shown this person.”

Rush was convicted and fined $1466.70 and was convicted and discharged on the possession charge.