Ex-soldier ‘prepared for war’ over missing cat

An animal rescue worker held at gunpoint over a missing cat has revealed the toll of the terrifying ambush by an ex-soldier in “full army mode”.

Ex-soldier Tony Wittmann held an animal shelter worker at gunpoint over his missing cat.

A former army reservist who stormed an animal rescue shelter and held a young worker captive in a bid to retrieve his support cat said he went into full “army mode” during the terrifying ambush.

Bailey Scarlett was about to start her evening shift at the Lost Dogs Home in January last year when a figure in “SWAT” gear approached her car window and pointed a gun at her face.

“Don’t try anything or I’ll shoot you”, Tony Wittmann, 45, barked at the young mother.

Wittmann would later claim he was suffering from a “brain meltdown” and PTSD after 16 years in the Australian Army.

In reality, he had only served two years as a reservist in the mid ’90s, had never left the state and was discharged after failing to meet the physical requirements of service.

But on January 11, Wittmann dressed in full combat gear – left over from years of cosplay – drove to the Cranbourne shelter with one mission on his mind: “Grab my cat … get the f--k out … (do) not engage unless absolutely necessary”.

The ex-soldier said he went into full “army mode” during the incident.

In a powerful victim impact statement to the County Court, Ms Scarlett told Wittmann through tears that ‘“real soldiers are meant to protect the public”.

“You were prepared for war … a war against a totally defenceless, animal rescue worker,” Ms Scarlett said on Wednesday.

Wittmann had contacted the Cranbourne pound about 6pm that evening about his missing cat and was told the business would be closing soon so made an appointment to pick up his pet the next day.

But instead of waiting until the morning, the father-of-three packed a bag of arsenal including a military style vest, an imitation flashbang and firearms, cable ties, a tomahawk, a hunting knife, wire cutters and a pet carrier and drove to the shelter.

Ms Scarlett wiped away tears as she recalled the frightening moment Wittmann aimed the gun at her head and threatened to kill her.

“I begged you, I cried to you … I kept telling you I was someone’s mother,”

“But my cries for my son and my life meant nothing to you,” she said.

“You were so unhinged, so unforgiving and cold,” Ms Scarlett said.

Wittmann forced the young mother into the building at gunpoint before telling her to get on her knees and tying her up with cable ties.

He later told police he bound Ms Scarlett with her arms behind her back because “it’s just the way I was trained”.

After discovering his hostage did not have access to the cat cages, Wittmann told her to count to 100 before he made “a tactical withdrawal”.

Wittman then returned to the shelter the following morning to collect his cat and staff quickly notified police after recognising him from CCTV.

The Langwarrin man was interviewed by police during which he initially denied any wrongdoing before making full admissions.

“The only thing I really treasure in this world is that cat and it was taken away from me,” Wittman told police.

He pleaded guilty to five charges including false imprisonment, assault and aggravated burglary.

Wittmann, who has been in custody since his arrest, will be sentenced on Friday.