A MAN who terrorised a Lambton resident with a star picket in the early hours of Monday while high on ice has had his bid for bail turned down after he pleaded guilty to three charges on Tuesday.
Frederick James Tangye, 32, did not know the victim - whose partner, toddler and father were all inside the home when the scene unfolded about 3.30am.
A statement of agreed facts tendered to Newcastle Local Court on Tuesday said Tangye picked up the star picket in the man's back yard before he approached the front door.
When the man, who heard Tangye out front, opened the door to investigate, the 32-year-old "committed a random act of violence" by repeatedly thrusting the picket at the man's head.
The statement of facts said Tangye accused the man several times of having his children inside the house and demanded them be returned - the pair had never previously met.
The man told Tangye he did not have his children, but Tangye continued to thrust the makeshift weapon at him, at one point saying: "I'm gunna kill ya".
The man closed the door on Tangye, who continued to wield the picket like a "javelin" and threatened to throw it through the front window.
Police soon arrived and arrested the Waratah man.
He pleaded guilty on Tuesday to one count each of being armed with intent to commit an indictable offence, larceny (for stealing the $10 star picket), and trespassing.
Magistrate Janine Lacy rejected his application for conditional release, and said he was likely to receive a full-time custodial sentence.
She said the incident was "particularly disturbing" and that Tangye was under the influence of the drug ice at the time.
"What occurred in that premises at 3.30 in the morning would have been incredibly disturbing and frightening for the occupants," she said.
In arguing against Tangye's bail application, police prosecutor Will Somers told the court the incident was "a random act of terror and violence" against people who "happened to be at the wrong place, at the wrong time".
Tangye will be sentenced on October 3.
