Jason Digory Keals: Geraldton man sentenced for terrorising neighbouring family over ‘kids running amok’

A Wonthella man who terrorised a neighbouring family, threatening to set “bikies and the army” on them because he was “sick” of children running amok, has avoided jail over the “frightening” incident. Jason Digory Keals appeared in Geraldton Magistrate’s Court on Monday pleading guilty to unlawfully damaging property, trespass and making threats to injure, endanger or harm. Prosecutor acting Sgt Dean Solman said the 33-year-old told police he was “sick” of the eight children running amok in the neighbourhood and believed they had stolen from him. He approached the house at 9.15pm on June 13, pushing over eight boundary fence panels and banging on the flyscreen door. “He picked up a rectangular fan and struck the flyscreen while the victim and her children were cowering inside and threatened them,” he said. He said Keals pulled up the leg of his pants and showed the family an unspecified tattoo, threatening to set “bikies and the army” on them. His lawyer, Tim Hampson, described the incident as a “brain snap”, saying the court should consider there was some provocation from the family. “It was done out of pure frustration,” he said. “There had been tension between him and the family for some time, he was under the impression children from the house had stolen from him.” But Magistrate Evan Shackleton said he would not accept provocation as a mitigating circumstance. “He may well have believed it but you don’t take the law into your own hands,” he said. “People have offended against me and probably everyone in this courtroom. It’s upsetting but it’s not for you to take action. Call the police.” Keals was sentenced to a seven-month community-based order with programs and supervision over the incident which caused $2000 in damage. “This would have been very very frightening for the occupants of that home,” Mr Shackleton said. “If I was sitting there, I’d see this as a positive. You’re going to get some help.”