A Warilla man with mental health issues who threatened to blow the AMP building in Sydney “to smithereens” over an unresolved policy dispute has avoided time behind bars.
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Scott Charles Austwick, who suffers from septicaemia of the mouth, phoned the company’s Melbourne call centre on the afternoon of November 26 seeking to get an early release from his policy. However his request was denied by the operator, prompting Austwick to launch into a tirade and abuse and threats.
“Guess what? Tomorrow I’m in Sydney, I’m gonna come in there a blow the building up, your AMP building,” he said.
“Ring the feds [Australian Federal Police] now, because you know what, I’ll be dead in a week. Tell them to come and see Scott Charles Austwick, ‘cause Scott’s coming in to f—k your building up.”
The operator warned Austwick he was committing a criminal offence by making the threats, however Austwick would not be silenced.
“I put it off for long enough, I’ve got to get my teeth done, yous (sic) are just f—king me around, I’m over it,” he said.
“Ring them [AFP] right now because this is a promise. I’m going to blow you f—kers to smithereens.”
The matter was reported to police, who tracked Austwick down to a room at the Warilla Hotel later that night.
He was charged with using a carriage service to make a hoax threat, to which he pleaded guilty.
Magistrate Mark Douglass sentenced Austwick to 18 months’ jail but agreed to suspend the prison term on the condition Austwick pay $1,000 if he breached the order.
He also ordered Austwick be supervised by Community Corrections staff for the term of the bond and participate in mental health treatment as directed by his doctor.