news, local-news, thomas mcgrath, wagga, wagga court

A Mount Austin man has told police he wanted to go to jail to catch up with incarcerated family and friends after he was caught with a knife. Thomas McGrath, 19, faced Wagga Local Court this week after pleading guilty to custody of a knife in a public place and armed with intent to commit an indictable offence. Documents tendered to the court state McGrath contacted triple zero and arranged to meet with police after an argument with a family member. McGrath asked the senior constable why police had only sent one officer, before pulling a 15 centimetre kitchen knife out of his pocket. Police asked McGrath twice to put the knife on the ground, which he eventually threw in the gutter behind him. McGrath then asked the officer if more police were due to arrive as he was placed under arrest. “Tell them I ran at you with a knife – I want to go to jail,” the facts state McGrath said. A search of the area later revealed a metal broom handle leaning on a tree, which police believed belonged to the accused. In an interview after his arrest, McGrath said he wouldn’t have used either of the items as they were for “show”, before outlining his desire to be put in jail. Solicitor Jim Allen, who represented McGrath, asked Magistrate Michael Crompton to consider a sentence with supervision. “The community would want him kept an eye on,” Mr Allen said. He was sentenced to a two-year good behaviour bond to run concurrently with another 12-month good behaviour bond, with supervision.

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