A HEPBURN Springs man told a receptionist at a Melbourne department store he would shoot her in the head “to be funny”, a court has heard.
Andrew Perrett, 44, appeared at the Ballarat Magistrates Court yesterday in relation to a series of prank calls in August.
He pleaded guilty to a charge of using a carriage service to menace.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Clint Prebble told the court Perrett was at his home on August 5, where he was drinking whisky and smoking cannabis.
Senior Constable Prebble said Perrett began making prank phone calls to random numbers throughout the morning, before he called a Kmart store in Mulgrave.
“The accused starting talking about a shooting at Monash University ... he was talking about shooting people,” he said.
“He said he would shoot the (receptionist he was speaking to) in the head.”
Senior Constable Prebble said Perrett also asked the receptionist if it would be funny if he shot himself in the head.
Perrett was arrested at his Hepburn Springs home later that day following a call to police by the Kmart employee.
The court heard Perrett told police he did not intend his phone calls to menace, he “just wanted to make some funny prank calls.”
Defence counsel asserted Perrett was heavily intoxicated and was later “desperately ashamed” of his behaviour.
The court heard when confronted by police, Perrett co-operated and made full admissions.
Magistrate Gregory McNamara said he accepted Perrett was under the influence of alcohol and other substances at the time of the calls, but it did not excuse the offending.
“I accept you feel ashamed ... but it’s a serious thing you’ve done,” he said.
Perrett was convicted and fined $500.