Canowindra man sentenced to 18 months imprisonment for string of offences
A Canowindra man will remain behind bars for 18 months, with a six month non-parole period, after he was found guilty of a string of charges at Cowra Local Court.
Michael Charlton, 39, of Newton Street, Canowindra was before the court charged with two counts of contravening a prohibition in an Apprehended Violence Order (AVO), intimidation intending fear, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and a break and enter.
According to police facts, between 11.30am on October 9, 2019 and 6.24pm on October 12, 2019, Charlton sent his victim more than 40 text messages and attempted to call more than 80 times.
The victim had informed Charlton he didn't need to look after family members that week due to the victim being ill.
Charlton then accused the victim of calling the police on him earlier that day.
On October 11, the victim awoke to find a handwritten note in their residence, which they believed was from Charlton.
The victim then received a number of messages from Charlton, who said he intended to harm himself and accused the victim of sleeping with other people.
All messages were ignored by the victim.
On October 12, Mr Charlon then sent a video to the victim, who contacted police.
On October 25, police attended the residence and spoke with Charlton, who was cautioned.
He admitted he sent the messages, however he could not recall the contents. He also said he was heavily influence by alcohol and his mental health was on the decline.
In a separate incident, Charlton sent more than 50 messages to the victim between December 28 and December 29.
At 10:45am on December 29, the victim went to Charlton's address to allow him to spend some time with family members for Christmas.
As the victim attempted to enter the residence, an argument ensued with Charlton through a window.
Charlton then punched the window causing the victim to have glass in their eye and on their arms. Chartlon also suffered cuts and both parties attended Canowindra Hospital for treatment.
At 9.30pm, police attended the victim's residence and took screenshots of the messages sent by Charlton.
Police then attended Charlton's address, who yelled "What do you want?".
Police explained he was being arrested due to breaching the conditions of his AVO.
Charlton then opened the blinds, brandishing a large, bladed knife and yelling "I'm not ready to go back to jail".
Police conversed with Charlton, who handed the knife over before he was cautioned and placed under arrest.
On January 5 at 9.30pm, Charlton consumed an unknown amount of intoxicating liquor.
He then walked to a medical practice in Canowindra, forcing entry via the back door.
Charlton then rummaged through two separate rooms, opening a number of different cupboards and taking an unknown amount of medications, placing them in a black backpack.
Charlton then phoned an associate to pick him up.
The associate then told Charlton that he could either dump the stolen medications or he will drive him to the police station, as they wanted no part in Charlton's break and enter.
The associate then drove to another person's residence and showed the resident a text message containing a photo of the medications. The resident then called police.
Police attended Charlton's residence, where he disclosed that he had consumed four vials of liquid medication and a number of tablets.
He also attempted to burn a number of medication boxes.
Charlton received treatment from Ambulance and was placed into custody.
At the same time, Charlton once again contravened the conditions of an AVO when he telephone his previous victim and left a message saying, "please just answer me or call me back. I really need you to come pick me up 'cause I'm in a bit of shit. It might be worth your while to come and get me or ring me please".
Later that night, Charlton left another message on the phone of his victim, saying "yeah alright, fair enough. Cops are looking for me. Did some silly shit tonight but they're after me. There's about four cop cars here. Just saying goodbye... bye".
Charlton's solicitor Mr Johnson sought an Intensive Corrections Order to allow his client to stay on his parent's property in Mudgee.
He noted Mr Charlton had no criminal history between 2012 and 2019 and that "alcohol was the problem".
"Alcohol is an inanimate object, Mr Charlton is the problem," Magistrate Michael O'Brien said in response.
Police Prosecutor Sergeant Pearce said imposing an ICO would expose another community to risk.
"If it happens, we seem to be moving the problem to another regional community, exposing his parents to a level of risk," Sgt Pearce said.
Mr O'Brien said Charlton's offending "beggars belief".
"I'm sure your parents must be extremely disappointed to see their son in custody yet again," he said.
"A sentence of full time imprisonment is the only sentence I can give."
Charlton will be eligible for release on parole on July 5, 2020.