Kidnapper high on ice

Armed man threatened youth worker, kids

A CAIRNS man was on ice when he kidnapped a youth worker and two children in a “delusional” effort to hide from police.

Ben William Annand Hunter, 27, held a knife to the youth worker’s throat and made threatening comments.

The Cairns District Court was told that at the time he was messed up on ice and hadn’t slept for four days. Ultimately no harm came to the three victims.

The 27-year-old pleaded guilty to kidnapping and burglary with violence while armed and was jailed for three years with immediate parole release.

Crown prosecutor Aaron Dunkerton said the youth worker had been caring for the two children in February 2017 when Hunter gestured that he would smash a glass sliding door with a rock if they didn’t let him in.

“He was subsequently let inside, he was armed with a knife,” Mr Dunkerton said.

“He held that knife at the complainant’s … throat and made remarks such as if the coppers come here and taser me people are going to die.”

Hunter made the victim and two children get into a car and drive him around Cairns for about 50 minutes. There was no violence during the car ride.

Chief Judge Kerry O’Brien said Hunter’s actions were consistent with “delusional type behaviour”.

The court was told that Hunter had been diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenic and at the time of the offending was on involuntary treatment.

Defence barrister Tim Grau said it was a relatively “low level” type of kidnapping and Chief Judge O’Brien agreed.

“It’s totally unlike the usual form,” Chief Judge said. “That’s not to say it wouldn’t have been very frightening.”

Mr Grau said his client had “no real intent to harm the victim”. “His intent was for the victim to find him a hiding place from police he believed were chasing him.”

Hunter had already spent 420 days in custody.

The court was told that Hunter was still receiving mental health treatment and if he did not comply with the plan he could be arrested.