A man with a drug-induced mental health illness put an Invermay neighbourhood in fear when he produced a metre-long sword and slashed a car's tyres after a dispute.
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Gary Stenhouse, 37, was riding his bike in the Invermay court, where his parents rented a house, in October when the landlord was informed the accused was there.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Steve Repac said as the landlord drove towards the property, Stenhouse rode at her before he got off his bike and verbally abused her.
"The victim became fearful because the accused was in an agitated state," Senior Constable Repac said.
He said the landlord was telling the neighbours what had occurred when Stenhouse appeared with a metre-long sword and presented it to the neighbours.
Stenhouse then used the sword to slash a car's four tyres, causing $1200 damage. Police were called and attended the address but could not locate Stenhouse or the sword.
"As a result of the incident, the victim was fearful of the accused and did not want him living at the house," Senior Constable Repac said.
Weeks before the incident, Stenhouse had sent his parent's landlord multiple text messages after she moved to evict them.
In one text message, Stenhouse told the landlord, 'if you want them out, I will burn your house down'.
At the Ballarat Magistrates Court on Wednesday, Stenhouse pleaded guilty to 10 charges relating to four seperate incidents between June and November last year.
On October 6 at 7.40pm police officers were called to conduct a welfare check on an unconscious Stenhouse at a Sunshine park.
After discovering he had an outstanding warrant, officers informed Stenhouse he was under arrest but he resisted, tried to flee and OC spray was deployed.
He was arrested and taken to Sunshine Hospital. Stenhouse's backpack, located at the park, contained 1.26 grams of methamphetamine and 14.4 grams of cannabis, the court was told.
"It is always your own choices whether to use illicit drugs ... that is the key whether you will end up in prison or not."
- Magistrate Ron Saines
Defence lawyer Michelle Lothian said her client had spent 177 days in custody since his arrest on October 6 and this was a sufficient sentence.
She said a community corrections order might not provide Stenhouse's required services because contact was not allowed with officers due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Ms Lothian said Stenhouse's schizophrenia had gone undiagnosed but he was now on medication, and his childhood explained his drug use.
But magistrate Ron Saines said it was clear from a medical report Stenhouse's mental health issues were drug-induced and his offending arose because of his drug use.
He said Stenhouse's mother and specialist doctor had identified he had life-long behavioural problems but the main problem was his drug use.
"It's your own decision if you will go back to drug use or not. That is the key to your future, whether you are able to stay in the community ad get some treatment for your life-long issues or go on drugs and become psychiatrically disturbed and be involved in criminality," the magistrate said.
"It is always your own choices whether to use illicit drugs ... that is the key whether you will end up in prison or not."
Speaking directly to the magistrate, Stenhouse said he needed support in the community because he found it difficult to deal with his problems on his own.
"I didn't know my behaviour was as bad as it was. It was appalling," Stenhouse said.
Mr Saines said Stenhouse's offending was simply unacceptable and required a term of imprisonment.
Stenhouse will undergo a mental health and community corrections order assessment before he is sentenced on April 15. He was remanded in custody.
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