Tradies attacked by man

A MAN wielding a piece of timber chased away three tradies after smashing up their work van in a bizarre incident outside a Geelong home.

Jason Foster, 48, was experiencing a manic relapse of bipolar disorder when he confronted the workers at a Corio address early last year.

Geelong Magistrates Court heard Foster had gone to the home to see a friend who no longer lived there, but lashed out after asking the workers where the man was.

Foster, of Newtown, was convicted and sentenced to a good behaviour bond after pleading guilty to criminal damage and threats to kill.

Prosecutor Kylie Jane said the incident took place about 7.45am on February 12, 2020, as a group of painters were working at the Corio home.

Foster repeatedly asked the workers the whereabouts of his friend.

The tradies said they did not know, then Foster threatened to kill all three of them.

He armed himself with a piece of timber and used it to smash all the windows of a nearby work van, before chasing the tradies down the road.

The court heard the incident was two days after Foster was released from the Swanston Centre, where he received mental health treatment.

Foster was arrested and made admissions to confronting the workers, telling police: “All they did was laugh at me, that’s what set me off.”

Defence lawyer Niamh Harrington said her client became agitated after believing his friend had somehow died inside the home.

“When trying to convey this to the workers at the house, they obviously weren’t understanding what his position was and what the problem was,” she said.

“Mr Foster perceived they were laughing at him, they weren’t helping him and he was incredibly distressed thinking something terrible had happened to a friend.”

Magistrate Jelena Popovic imposed a good behaviour bond with a condition that Foster follow all directions from treating doctors and mental health professionals.