A man who threatened to hunt down a police officer and their family after being arrested over an assault in Thirroul earlier this month appeared in Wollongong Local Court on Tuesday.
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Aiden Michael Cole, 42, of Thirroul represented himself in court, pleading guilty to a range of charges, including assault, affray and assaulting and intimidating police.
Court documents state the trouble started after Cole began following a group of people who had just left Beaches Hotel, and started swearing at them.
They met another group and told them how Cole had made them feel threatened.
A man from the new group walked over to Cole and said "righto mate, just leave it alone".
Cole immediately responded by hitting the man in the side of the head, leaving him with a cut over his eye.
The group held Cole to the ground while police were called, and when they arrived they took him to a bench nearby and told him to sit down.
"He continually challenged police, trying to stand and come towards police and witnesses, screaming at them and threatening them," the police facts stated.
At one stage he raised his fist and walked towards an officer before he was grabbed; all the while still trying to hit police with his clenched fist.
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Cole was taken to Wollongong police station, where the threats then escalated.
"I will come for you," the facts state he said to a police officer, "I'm going to get someone to kill you, shoot you, shoot you and your whole family.
"I'm coming for you and your family, motherf...ker, I will go to jail, get out and find you and your family ... now it's personal. I'm coming for you - expect it."
Representing himself in court, Cole admitted he was intoxicated on the night in question.
"I have respect for the police," he said. "I just have a problem with alcohol ... I'll never touch another drop in my life again."
Magistrate Walker said being drunk was no excuse for the abuse of police or for punching the victim in a Thirroul street.
"You king hit this fellow for nothing other than telling you to leave them alone," the magistrate said.
Cole said he couldn't remember the threats he made towards police but "I believe it's true".
The magistrate pointed to Cole's previous jail terms for domestic violence and assault.
"Please just give me one more chance and I'll show it," Cole responded.
"I have gone long periods without it [alcohol] and I promise you this is it for me."
Magistrate Walker set the case to return to court on September 17 for sentencing, issuing a warning.
"Don't be surprised if you are going to jail on that day," he said.
