After going on a rampage with a pickaxe-like-tool over an occupied toilet, a Burnie man has been sentenced to 18 months in prison.
Justin Dean Jones pleaded guilty to three counts of assault, four counts of injuring property and three counts of destroying property in the Burnie Supreme Court on Thursday.
The court heard how the October 2020 incident at a residence where Jones had been staying started after he became angry over bathroom availability.
Justice Tamara Jago said Jones both verbally and physically abused the three members of the household with a mattock, threw bottles and smashed a television, leaving all “badly impacted” and injured.
“In something of a rage, you went on to damage a number of items within the residence including a dog crate, a cabinet and a number of items of crockery, a bird cage, plaster on the walls of the residence and a mobile phone,” Jago said.
“They clearly found the whole experience traumatic and upsetting.”
Tamara Jago
The victims suffered physical injuries and emotional trauma due to the incident, with lasting effects including nightmares and flashbacks.
Jones has a history of prior convictions, including assault, injure property and other offenses.
He has a diagnosed moderate intellectual disability that ‘affects his ability to regulate emotions, problem-solve and make rational choices’.
Despite this, the court found that Jones still had the capacity to appreciate the wrongfulness of his actions.
“You became angry over a very insignificant matter,” Jago said.
“You armed yourself with a weapon and proceeded to attack other vulnerable members of the household.”
“You caused considerable harm to them and their property and the sentence ought reflect that.”
Jones was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, with a non-parole period of 10 months, backdated to October 30 2022 taking into account time already served.
