Victor Farrugia has avoided jail after pleading guilty to assaulting two nurses and making threats to kill

A man who attacked two nurses at a Werribee mental health unit after they refused to let him take his wife home has faced court.

Victor Farrugia outside Werribee Magistrates Court on Thursday.

A Sunshine West man who assaulted two on duty nurses in Werribee and made threats to kill has avoided jail.

Victor Farrugia pleaded guilty at the Werribee Magistrates Court on Thursday to charges of assault and threatening to kill during an aggressive tirade at the Werribee Mercy Mental Health Psychiatric Unit three years ago.

The incident happened in January 2020 while Farrugia, 56, was at the psychiatric unit trying to take his wife home, who was on an involuntary treatment order.

When told he was unable to remove her, the court heard Farrugia became verbally aggressive towards two nurses and screamed abuse.

Farrugia then hit one nurse three times in the chest and said “you better get out of my way, or I’ll f--ing kill you”.

Another nurse then attempted to defuse the situation, before they were hit in the chest, grabbed by the arm and pushed.

Other staff members and security arrived soon after and de-escalated the situation.

While Farrugia was escorted out of the building by security he yelled out “that guy, I’m going to find out where that guy lives and kill him”.

The two nurses, aged 30 and 32 respectively, reported they had soreness but did not require medical treatment.

The accused was arrested in May 2020 and released pending summons.

Farrugia was convicted and sentenced to 200 hours of unpaid community service.