Suspended gaol term for man

who terrorised wife with sword

AN 18-MONTH suspended gaol sentence has been imposed on a man who terrorised his wife with a sword and a firearm and fired at police at a property near Orange in January.

Thomas John Power, 39, yesterday (Tuesday) pleaded guilty to charges arising from the assault and standoff, witnessed by his children, at a home on Cargo Rd.

Orange Local Court heard that Power had drunk half a bottle of spirits, eight beers and smoked six cones of marijuana, which had contributed to his mental state the time of the offences.

Mrs Power was assaulted by her husband when she returned home after an argument and found she’d been locked out.

She was confronted by Power wielding a samurai sword and verbally threatening her at the side of the house.

Mrs Power tried to escape but her husband followed, preventing her from leaving

The threats and abuse continued in the house before Power pushed his wife out the front door and she ran for the front gate.

Her 12-year-old son ran after her and Power fired a shot in the direction of the pair as they made their escape.

Police were alerted and a team of negotiators was summoned to talk Power out of the house.

Power was a hard-working man who worked long hours in the mining industry at the time and is now the family’s sole breadwinner, the court heard.

Power was sentenced to a suspended 18-month gaol term for assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and using a firearm in a manner likely to injure a person.

A suspended 12-month sentence was imposed for the remaining firearms charges.

Power was also placed on a bond to be of good behaviour for 12 months.