Jaiden Salvatore Lembo: Community-based order for threatening woman with fake firearm over payment dispute

An Albany father of three has been given a community-based order after threatening a woman with a fake firearm over a disagreement on the payment of a vehicle. Jaiden Salvatore Lembo, 30, appeared via video link from Albany Regional Prison in Albany Magistrates Court on Thursday on one charge of made a threat to unlawfully do an act. He previously pleaded guilty to the charge on April 11 after it was downgraded from the indictable charge of threat with intent to gain a benefit. Police prosecutor Sgt Matt Hartfield told the court that Lembo threatened the woman at her Orana home saying her partner owed him money on the morning of January 29. The woman was at home with her three-month-old baby at the time. Lembo partially withdrew what appeared to be a handgun and told her to tell her partner to pay him or he would “start using this” before leaving the address. Lembo’s defence lawyer Elizabeth Hamilton said the charge was downgraded because the handgun was never recovered and could not be proven. Ms Hamilton said Lembo left after he was asked twice and had spent two and a half months in custody. Ms Hamilton asked for a fine to be issued. Sgt Hartfield disagreed and requested imprisonment saying a person cannot “go around and produce what a person believes is a firearm”. He said Lembo had previous threat, common assault and being armed offences dating back to 2017. Magistrate Erin O’Donnell found that Lembo was not of prior good character. “Any threat made to a person is a serious matter,” she said. “Even if you feel aggrieved to whatever the issues is, you cannot react this way.” Lembo was given an immediate eight-month community-based order.