A magistrate has slammed a Dubbo man's 'abhorrent' behaviour for threatening to kill a woman during an emotional engagement
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Adam Ross Tisdell pleaded guilty to one count of using a carriage service to threaten to kill and one count of intimidation in Dubbo Local Court on Wednesday.
According to police the 48-year-old left the threatening voicemail on a woman's phone on October 27 after police had dealt with a domestic violence incident at the woman's home earlier that day.
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"You hurt my ... and I will f---ing kill you, f---ing slag," court documents said.
Police said the woman saw she had a missed call from Tisdell and sent him a text message saying "feel free to text".
Tisdell responded telling the woman not to hurt the person he knew.
"I've asked police to charge you with assault. If you hurt ... again I will drag you out by the hair and do the same to you," Tisdell said.
Police said Tisdell's messages left the woman extremely fearful for her safety, and believed he may kill her.
The next day Tisdell went to the police station where he made full admissions.
In court on Wednesday, Defence lawyer Jai Silkman said Tisdell had received a disturbing phone call which led him to fear for the safety of the person who was with the woman.
"There was screaming on the phone," Silkman said.
"He accepts it was the completely wrong thing to say in a text, he was emotional."
However Magistrate Stephen Olischlager said Tisdell's conduct was "abhorrent".
"A threat to kill someone is the worst possible threat you can make," he said.
"I don't know how you could make a threat like that ... it's almost a controlling behaviour to say if you don't do something I'll kill you ... it's unacceptable."
Magistrate Olischlager said he accepted the circumstances and that Tisdell was in an "emotional person" when the incident occurred, however said threats of violence were not something "any man should ever do".
The court heard Tisdell had a history of violence which went back to the 1990s, including domestic violence offences.
"It's pleasing to see there has been quite a clear break in the conduct," Magistrate Olischlager said.
Tisdell was convicted and fined $1000.