A 50-year-old man charged with multiple offence, including threatening a Council ranger with a weapon, was jailed when he appeared in Mudgee Local Court on Wednesday.
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Brian Sultana of Norlenbah Road, Mudgee, was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment with a non-parole period of six months for the charge of using an offensive weapon with intent to commit an indictable offence.
At about 1.30pm on Thursday, October 16, 2014, the Mid-Western Regional Council ranger was performing duties in the Byron Place car park when they attempted to mark the tyre of Sultana’s vehicle.
He then threatened the victim with the weapon which was initially believed to be a sword but was later found to be a black shovel handle.
Sultana was also given a six-month fixed term of imprisonment for the charge of receiving stolen property after he was found with a vehicle that he admitted to knowing was stolen.
Furthermore, he was fined $1000 and disqualified for six months for the charge of driving under the influence of alcohol/other drug.
At about 2.40pm on Wednesday, October 1, 2014, officers in the front of the Mudgee Police Station heard an engine revving loudly and came outside to see Sultana’s vehicle in Market Street.
They noticed that he appeared to be under the influence as his actions were jerky, his speech was fast and he appeared to be talking to himself.
He was taken to Mudgee District Hospital where blood and urine samples were taken, the results of which were returned two weeks later positive for methamphetamine.
In sentencing, Magistrate Terry Lucas noted that Sultana had pleaded not guilty to the weapon charge, but was found guilty after a hearing on Tuesday.
He said that even though it wasn’t a sword or knife, as he was initially charged with, the handle and its use in the incident was still considered an offensive weapon.
Sultana’s legal-aid solicitor, Chris Yee, told the court that the charge of having the stolen vehicle was not done “for his own gain”.
Sultana knew who owned it, knew it was stolen and took it and was keeping it on behalf of the owner, Mr Yee said.
Sultana is to face a charge of robbery in Mudgee Local Court on Wednesday, July 22, 2015.