Man feared for life as drunk man held ‘gun’ to his head for more than a minute in Bunbury
A man was left fearing for his life after an intoxicated man held a fake gun to his head for more than a minute, yelling at the victim he would “put a hole” in him.
The offender lived in a caravan at the back of the victim’s friend’s home.
The Bunbury District Court was told Craig Edward Golding, 55, stormed into the home holding a “barrel lighter” resembling a gun, looking for his on-again, off-again partner he thought the residents inside the property’s main home were hiding.
The ordeal happened on April 29, and came after the woman who was renting the home — from Golding’s mother — had numerous run-ins with the man who she shared a bathroom and laundry with while he lived in the backyard in a caravan.
The court was told the living area was separated by a locked door, but while the renter was showering that morning, Golding entered the home where a group of friends were sitting near the kitchen.
He was shouting at the group, demanding to know where the partner who had left him was hiding. One of the men stood up and told Golding he should go, but Golding raised his hand which was holding the fake gun.
State prosecutor Gary Huggins said Golding held the perceived weapon to the man’s head for one to two minutes, shouting “I’ll put a hole in you. I’m going to kill you”.
He then walked around the home, shouting threats to kill his partner, saying he had seven bullets for the gun and would shoot her, before leaving.
He was later charged with pretending to be armed to cause fear, and for making threats to kill, which he pleaded guilty to in January.
The District Court judge said it was clear Golding was “under the influence of something” with the agreed facts stating he had been drinking, but witness statements claimed his eyes were “fully black” and his jaw was constantly moving.
“This sounds like drugs to me,” the judge said.
The judge said Golding had let the group believe the gun was real and held it for an “excruciating” length of time to the victim’s head.
“He thought he was going to die that day,” the judge said.
“I don’t want to imagine having what you believe is a gun pointed straight at your head by an angry, vengeful (person).
“It was your unhinged efforts to find her (your partner) and your unhinged blame on (the residents). It was your intent to terrify.”
The court was told Golding had a lengthy criminal record spanning three States, with the judge describing him as a “positive menace to the community” who started using drugs at 12 years of age and offended throughout his adult life.
“Nothing stops your offending it seems,” the judge said.
Golding was sentenced to 22 months behind bars for the two offences, but will be made eligible for parole after serving half that time.
The jail term was backdated to July 15 to account for time already spent in custody.
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