It’s an indisputable fact that some people in this world make dumb decisions when they’re drunk.
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Then, there’s Brad Doble.
The Dapto labourer perhaps set a new high – or low, depending on how you look at it – during one particularly memorable drinking session last month when he allegedly phoned emergency services to report a hoax threat at his own home.
Police will allege Doble contacted triple zero just after 9pm on August 5 and told the operator he had bashed his partner, knocking her front teeth out.
He also told the call-taker he had 30 children at the house and was in possession of five guns before hanging up the phone, court documents said.
The report sparked a major police response, with Lake Illawarra sending seven car crews and one ambulance to the scene.
Making matters worse, police learned en route that Doble had a firearms prohibition order against him and was currently on parole for stabbing a shopkeeper during a botched armed robbery in 2012.
Officers set up a check point near Doble’s house, donned ballistic vests and took part in a briefing before approaching the home.
Court documents said they saw Doble walk onto the front porch then retreat back inside as they approached.
Officers gained entry to the home and apprehended Doble, detaining him in the front yard of the home while they questioned his partner inside the house.
She allegedly confirmed Doble had made the entire story up, saying there had been no assault, there were no guns in the house and the only two children in the house were asleep in bed.
Police arrested Doble, who they said appeared heavily under the influence of alcohol.
When asked why he’d done it, Doble’s alleged response was short and sweet: “I’m a dickhead”.
He was charged with making a false representation resulting in a police investigation and given police bail to attend Port Kembla court on Wednesday, however failed to turn up, resulting in his arrest overnight.
Police opposed the 26-year-old’s bail application on Thursday, noting the considerable amount of police resources that went into responding to the hoax threat.
“Most, if not all the police resources in the Local Area Command were utilised,” police prosecutor Sergeant James Sala said.
“Police go into the situation expecting it to be very volatile.”
However, Doble’s lawyer said he would abide by any bail conditions in released.
Magistrate Peter Thompson granted Doble bail provided he report to police daily, not take drugs or drink alcohol, not phone triple zero unless there’s a genuine emergency and abide by a nighttime curfew.