A man charged with multiple offences, including threatening to kill a security guard, has pleaded guilty to assault.
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Donald Johns, 32, appeared in the Ballarat Magistrate’s Court on Monday and pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawful assault at Eureka on 9 January 2018.
Court documents state that two Central Highlands Water employees had gone to perform water restrictions work on Johns’ property at about 9.30am on 9 January.
The alleged victim and his co-worker had completed the adjustments to the water main in the accused’s front yard and were packing up when they noticed the accused standing outside his front door “in his underwear and holding a sledge hammer.”
The victim said Johns had dropped the sledge hammer but had then picked up a brick and chased the victim up the street.
It is alleged he had then verbally abused and threatened the victim and his co-worker, demanding they remove the water-restricting device at his property.
The CHW employees had then returned to the residence and removed the device. It is alleged the accused had continued to abuse them until it was removed.
During a police interview on 19 January, 2018, the accused had responded with “no comment” to every question.
Johns also faces charges arising from other incidents, including making threats to kill and committing an indictable offence while on bail.
Johns has also been charged with further offences arising from an incident at Ballarat Law Courts on June 25.
It is alleged he made threats against a security officer, including yelling at the officer, “the next time I see you, you will have a bullet in your head”.
Magistrate Saines checked Johns was participating in the Court Integrated Service Program (CISP) and extended bail, instructing him to appear at Ballarat Court on 10 September 2018.
An interim Intervention Violence Order on behalf of three parties will also remain in place until 10 September.