The police critical incident response team was called to a western Victorian home when a man threatened police with a kitchen knife and said he would shoot and kill them.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Christopher Condon, 32, was intoxicated and responded aggressively when his mother let police into their house to conduct a court order compliance check on June 8, 2021.
The Ballarat Magistrates' court heard on Monday Condon grabbed a knife and yelled at police to 'get the f*** out'.
The officers retreated to outside the house and Condon yelled he had pulled a rifle from the roof and was going to shoot and kill them.
Condon smashed a glass pain from his bedroom window and continued to yell threats and abuse at police.
The police critical response team attended and negotiated with him while he continued to make threats holding multiple knives and shards of glass.
Police have a difficult job to do.
- Magistrate Jonathan Klestadt
Defence barrister Amanda Hurst said it was the third time in eight weeks police had attended Condon's house for a compliance check and this tipped him over the edge.
"He feels like he was being targeted by the police in the local area," she said.
The court heard Condon drank alcohol to deal with his anxiety.
Ms Hurst said Condon was at risk of becoming institutionalised as he had done many long stints in jail.
Condon entered pleas of guilty to the charges of threats to kill, assaulting police and criminal damage after magistrate Jonathan Klestadt gave a sentence indication.
Mr Klestadt said Condon became violent when he drank alcohol.
"Police have a difficult job to do," he said.
"It is much more difficult when people are drug or alcohol affected and the court will not tolerate this type of behaviour.
"If you are unable to maintain your sobriety upon your release you will be back in custody sooner rather than later."
Condon will serve a total effective sentence of four months imprisonment.
He has served 28 days in pre-sentence detention.
Mr Klestadt said he would have imposed a sentence of nine months' imprisonment if not for Condon's pleas of guilty.
If you are seeing this message you are a loyal digital subscriber to The Courier, as we made this story available only to subscribers. Thank you very much for your support and allowing us to continue telling Ballarat's story. We appreciate your support of journalism in our great city.
Rochelle Kirkham
Rochelle covers court and has a particular interest in social issues including homelessness, food security and family violence.
Rochelle covers court and has a particular interest in social issues including homelessness, food security and family violence.
