A BALLARAT man threatened to kill staff at a local radio station because a news story was broadcast about his former girlfriend, a court heard on Monday.
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Raymond Graham, 41, pleaded guilty in Ballarat Magistrates Court to one count of making threats to kill.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Clint Prebble said Graham phoned 3BA radio about 9.10am on February 14 and made threats to kill.
Senior Constable Prebble said Graham told reception he was going to come
to the station and kill someone.
Graham was later transferred to speak to the program director.
Police spoke to Graham on March 10 regarding the incident but he made no admissions.
Defence lawyer Richard Oakley said his client heard the news story on the radio when he was taking his children to school that morning.
“He rang the station to correct the story and the receptionist did not put him through,” Mr Oakley said.
He also said 3BA was going to provide a Code of Conduct booklet to his client, but had failed to do so.
Magistrate Cynthia Toose said the incident was very serious.
“You accepted you did the wrong thing when you rang ... and made a threat to kill,” Ms Toose said.
She also understood Graham had called to correct information in the news bulletin.
In February, Graham’s former girlfriend, Rachael Bride, pleaded guilty in Ballarat Magistrates Court to intentionally causing injury, after biting a Ballarat Base Hospital security guard on the forearm.
On Monday, Ms Toose placed Graham on a Community Corrections Order on the provision he complete 100 hours of unpaid work over 12 months.
