Alcoholic jailed for police officer kill threat in Doveton
An alcoholic of more than 30 years has served 11 prison sentences for crimes he committed while sozzled, including defecating on the doorstep of a neighbour he terrorised in Melbourne’s southeast. Now, he’s threatened to kill a policewoman with a glass shard.
South East
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A chronic alcoholic threatened to kill a policewoman with a shard of glass has been jailed again.
The veteran drinker, who has been an alcoholic for more than 30 years, has already served 11 prison sentences for crimes committed while he was sozzled.
Now he will have to remain sober and spend several more months behind bars.
Stephen Wheldon, 55, had only been out of jail a short time after serving time for a series of bizarre booze-fuelled crimes when he “lost the plot” again.
Last year he served three months after he terrorised his then-Noble Park neighbour by smashing his windows, racially abusing him and defecating on his doorstep.
Wheldon pleaded guilty via videolink to charges including threat to kill, criminal damage, theft and bail breaches at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
The court heard Wheldon was living in a Doveton house with his brother, who he had allowed to stay, in March last year.
But while his brother was away on a short break a drunk Wheldon threw all his sibling’s furniture onto the nature strip and smashed up their fridge.
When the brother, who was also drunk, came back home the pair argued and Wheldon smashed in a window with his hand.
When police attended, a very inebriated Wheldon confronted a female officer with a glass shard broken from the window.
He called her a “bitch” and said he was “going to kill her”.
Police called in back-up and Wheldon had to be sprayed with capsicum spray three times before being subdued and taken to hospital, telling officers he had “lost the plot”.
He was arrested and bailed, but only two weeks later he threw a cup at a Noble Park bank window, causing almost $1000 in damage.
He remained crime-free until he stole a bottle of port from a Moorabbin liquor store on May 12 this year.
Police, who happened to be at the pub next door on an unrelated call-out, arrested him and he was remanded.
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Wheldon’s defence lawyer told the court her client had severe, ongoing issues with alcohol for over three decades, and his “significant” criminal history was all down to booze abuse.
She said jail had been a bit of a “revolving door situation” and alcohol had sadly affected his health, his relationships and his liberty.
Magistrate Jack Vandersteen said Wheldon had been given three parole periods and six corrections orders, as well as his jail terms, and yet he had not changed his behaviour.
“Your criminal history dates back to 1987, it is a long history,” Mr Vandersteen said.
“You have very significant problems with alcohol, it has been affecting you for over 30 years.
“You not being able to cope with your drinking … it puts people at risk.”
Wheldon was jailed for a total of nine months, minus 55 days he has already served.