A Coast man who threatened his neighbour during a series of “frivolous and fictitious” calls to triple-0 begged a magistrate not to send him to jail.
David John Hurren pleaded guilty in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Friday to the improper use of an emergency call service and one count of threatening violence by words or conduct.
Prosecutor Nichale Bool said the calls occurred after police went to Hurren’s Burnside home on Sunday night where he was reported to be playing loud music and swearing into a microphone.
Ms Bool said the 52-year-old was intoxicated and was yelling at neighbours across the road about comments he said were made about him being a paedophile.
“He was demanding police go to speak to the neighbour across the road,” Ms Bool said.
She said Hurren told police that if they did not, he would go over and sort it out.
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Ms Bool said Hurren made eight phone calls to triple-0 after police left.
“There were threats made during these phone calls, he was advised numerous times to stop using the lines to make such phone calls and it wasn’t an inappropriate measure,” she said.
“He stated on one of the calls, ‘and sort this f—– out across the road’ or he would take the law into his own hands.
“He kept demanding using offensive language.”
Given Hurren’s criminal history of violence she suggested a short suspended sentence as an appropriate punishment.
“Resources and triple-0 calls are obviously precious and the line should be reserved for more impending threats,” she said.
“He was obviously informed of this eight times and didn’t abide by these warnings.”
The court heard Hurren’s threats occurred between November 16 and 19 after his neighbour declined an invitation to have a drink with him.
The neighbour told police Hurren called him a c— and carried on at his front door.
Duty lawyer Michael Robinson said Hurren was prescribed a number of medications which were washed down with copious amounts of alcohol.
“My client is an alcoholic and has a daily drinking habit, he drinks VB and a lot of it,” he said.
“He has expressed his desire to me that he is determine to give up alcohol.”
Mr Robinson said the father of two had no recollection of the offences and suggested a suspended sentence and a recognisance release order.
Hurren apologised numerous times during his plea and begged not to go to jail.
“I just want to go see my kids I’m not going to drink anymore,” he cried.
“Please don’t send me to jail I will do parole or anything.”
Magistrate Leanne Scoines said Hurren’s behaviour and vulgar language while “grossly intoxicated” was unacceptable.
“You’ve called triple-0 some eight times and what’s more your conduct during those calls has been less than impressive and you’ve made threats against the bloke across the road that obviously didn’t want to socialise with you,” she said.
“You cannot mess around with those triple-0 services they are an essential life blood of the community; people need to access them.
“The last thing those people need is to deal with people calling, calling and calling making frivolous and fictitious complaints.”
Hurren was sentenced to one month in prison and placed on a recognisance release order of $350 for his calls to triple-0.
He was also sentenced to another one month sentence which was suspended for three months.