Ex-soldier threatened to shoot animal shelter worker for cat

A former soldier has pleaded guilty to tying up an animal shelter worker and threatening to shoot her as he stormed the premises with a rifle to retrieve his “support cat”.

Tony Wittman has pleaded guilty to storming an animal shelter and threatening to shoot a staff member.

A former soldier donned camouflage combat gear and armed himself with an assault rifle before storming a Victorian animal shelter to retrieve his missing cat.

Tony Wittmann, 44, pleaded guilty to eight offences in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Monday over the terrifying raid at the Lost Dogs’ Home on January 11.

He snuck into the Cranbourne West shelter and pointed the gun at an animal ranger, threatening to shoot her if she did not hand over his “support cat” about 10.30pm.

“Do as I say and listen to me, and I won’t hurt you,” he told the worker.

Two hours earlier, the father of three, who lives alone with multiple cats, had scoped out the premises to see where security cameras were.

He then went home to change into his military uniform and helmet and packed a bag with weapons, torches and cable ties prepared in the shape of handcuffs.

Tony Wittmann with one of his cats.

Wittmann, 44, in camouflage gear.

An earlier court heard how he forced the shelter worker on to her knees, bound her hands with cable ties behind her backk, before demanding to know where the cats were kept.

He told her not to turn around, and to count to 100.

She was left traumatised by the ordeal, describing the gun as one “like a SWAT team would use in a movie”.

Wittmann had called the home earlier that day and confirmed his missing cat was there, but the earliest appointment available to pick up the feline was not until the next day.

He ultimately left empty-handed.

But when Wittmann arrived at his appointment to pick up his cat the following day, police, who were at the shelter probing the burglary, swooped on him.

Wittmann, who suffers PTSD, was charged with 24 offences, but 16 charges were withdrawn in a plea deal with the prosecution.

When magistrate Tara Hartnett asked how he pleaded to the remaining charges, Wittmann said: “I plead guilty, your honour”.

Among the charges he pleaded guilty to were aggravated burglary, false imprisonment and assault.

He also pleaded guilty to perjury after he gave a false statement to police about his movements on the day of the incident.

Wittmann has been in custody since his arrest, having earlier been refused bail.

He will face a pre-sentencing hearing in the County Court on February 23.