Man who threatened to kill his mother remains in community

MAKAYLA MUSCAT

ABerkshire Park man who threatened to decapitate his mother has been given a Community Correction Order.

The 27-year-old fronted Penrith Local Court via video link earlier this month, charged with ‘intentionally or recklessly destroy/damage property domestic violence related’, ‘stalk or intimidate intending to cause fear of physical or mental harm’ and two counts of ‘contravene prohibition or restriction in an apprehended domestic violence order’.

According to court documents, the accused was served a final Apprehended Domestic Violence Order (ADVO) in October 2022 after he punched a hole in an internal wall of his mother’s home.

Less than 12 months later, he breached the court orders by visiting the victim’s home within 12 hours of drinking alcohol or taking illicit drugs.

Before 9am on April 17, an argument ensued between the two parties over the accused’s drug use.

According to court documents, his mother asked if he was under the influence of drugs and told him that he would have to leave the property.

The accused then said, “shut the f**k up or I’ll cut your head off and chuck it in the chook pen”.

A set of agreed facts state that the victim no longer feels safe in her home and fears the accused may follow through with his threats.

He was granted bail at Penrith Local Court but reoffended less than 48 hours later by returning to his mother’s address.

Earlier this month, the court heard that the accused’s history is “permeated by drugs and alcohol”.

His lawyer also said his client, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been diagnosed with bipolar.

The prosecutor noted the seriousness of domestic violence offences, telling the accused that he’ll “end up in jail” if he keeps reoffending.

In sentencing, Magistrate Gregory Moore was frank, telling the accused “you couldn’t even comply with your bail for 48 hours”.

“Your mother does not deserve to be treated in the manner in which you treated her,” he said.

He had his Conditional Release Orders revoked and was given an 18 month Community Correction Order (CCO).

As part of his CCO, he must accept rehabilitation and supervision from Community Corrections at Penrith.

MAKAYLA MUSCAT

Aman disqualified from driving until 2055 has had his habitual offender declaration quashed.

Jason Isbitski appeared at Penrith Local Court via video link on Thursday, May 11, where he applied to have his driving ban overturned.

After taking an oath, he told the court that he needs his licence to get to his place of work and take his 75-yearold mother to medical appointments.

Before handing down his decision, Magistrate Stephen Corry told the court that the length of Isbitski’s disqualification period “effectively means he’ll never be able to drive”.

He also noted that Isbitski has not committed a driving offence since 2015, telling the court that the imposed penalty “appears to be disproportionate”.

Isbitski’s habitual traffic offender declaration was quashed and, once he is released from custody, he will be eligible to apply for a learner’s driver licence again.

Popular Greek restaurant will close after six years in

Cranebrook-based Greek restaurant Avli has announced it will close its doors on June 25 after six years in operation.

The reasons behind the closure of the restaurant, which opened in 2017, were not immediately clear. “We hope that you all have enjoyed our little bit of Greece that we have brought to the Penrith community,” the restaurant said in a statement.

The restaurant said it was closing with a “heavy heart”. Avli was based in a heritage

MAKAYLA MUSCAT

ASouth Penrith man has walked free from jail after being allowed to serve the rest of his sentence for driving offences in the community.

Shane Taylor, 51, was previously sentenced to six months behind bars and disqualified from obtaining a driver’s licence until 2044.

On Monday, May 15, he appeared at Penrith District Court, via video link, where he appealed the decision.

According to a set of facts tendered to the court, Taylor was busted in the driver’s seat of a white 4WD just before 10pm on November 22, 2022.

He was driving along Jamison Road when police noticed his partially obstructed number plate and signalled for him to pull over.

When asked to produce his driver’s licence Taylor said, “I don’t have one... it’s disqualified... I went to court the other day”.

He has never held a driver’s licence and is disqualified from obtaining one until December 2043, court documents reveal.

When questioned in relation to why he was driving during his disqualification period, Taylor allegedly told police, “I had to pick my daughter up”.

Taylor is a habitual traffic offender and has been formally charged with ‘drive motor vehicle on road during disqualification period’ 21 times.

On Monday, an Aboriginal Legal Service (ALS) lawyer representing Taylor told the court that her client “has got low literacy, finished school in Year 8 and doesn’t have a birth certificate”.

She also stated that Taylor is employed “for the first time in his life”.