John Thomas Shaw jailed for threatening and assaulting homeowner during theft

A man who spiralled into meth use after losing his partner and baby in an overseas tragedy has been jailed after threatening to shoot the homeowner he was robbing.

A man who assaulted the homeowner he was in the middle of robbing had his life spiral out of control after the tragic death of his partner and baby.

John Thomas Shaw, 34, was given a chance by the court and could be out of jail in only a few months after he threatened to shoot the woman upon confrontation.

During sentencing on Tuesday, the District Court heard the female victim was at a park opposite her Salisbury North home with her daughter on June 27, 2022.

She saw Shaw moving in her front yard.

“She saw you exiting the front gate carrying three bags containing her property which included jewellery, watches, perfume and three apple iPhones,” Judge Jo-Anne Deuter said.

John Shaw pleaded guilty to serious criminal trespass and theft. Photo: Facebook

John Shaw was jailed for over two years. Photo: Facebook

The victim approached Shaw and pleaded with him to give the items back to her.

“You shouted words to the effect that you had a gun and you would shoot her and you then pushed the complainant onto the road,” Judge Deuter said.

Shaw drove off and was arrested after DNA and his car registration plate linked him to the crime.

Shaw pleaded guilty to serious criminal trespass, assault and theft.

The court heard Shaw lost his wife and their fourth child who she was pregnant in 2016.

Shaw and Natasha Angie, 28, who was 26 weeks pregnant, were holidaying in the US when she suddenly developed a rare form of pre-eclampsia, a pregnancy complication that claimed both her life and that of their unborn baby boy.

John Shaw and his late partner Natasha Angie in South Australia. Picture: Supplied By Family.

The court heard Shaw then struggled to get back into work after the Las Vegas tragedy, his life spiralled and he started using methamphetamine.

The court heard before the tragedy Shaw lived a relatively stable life, including working in construction and for National Parks.

Judge Deuter said she was impressed by the steps Shaw had taken to rehabilitate and the insight he gained.

She said she would give him a chance to return home to his children and his new partner who he shares a daughter with as soon as possible.

Judge Deuter sentenced Shaw to two years and six months’ jail, with a non-parole period of one year and six months.

“Every person is entitled to consider their home as a place of refuge and safety and by breaking that sense of security by entering a person’s home and taking what you please you completely undermine that security that a person is entitled to feel in their own home,” she said.

The sentence was backdated to September 20, 2022.

Originally published as John Thomas Shaw jailed for threatening and assaulting homeowner during theft