Colin John Smith: 12 months imprisonment for wielding machete at ex-partner twice in same day

A Katanning father of eight with 189 prior convictions has been sentenced to 12 months in prison for twice wielding a machete in front of his ex-partner. Colin John Smith, 34, appeared via video link from Albany Regional Prison in Albany Magistrates Court on Thursday charged with two counts of being armed or pretending to be armed in a way that may cause fear. Smith pleaded guilty to the charges on June 11. Police prosecutor Sgt Warrick Walker told the court Smith wielded a large machete in front of his former partner in two separate incidents on May 27. At 12.30am, Smith saw his ex-partner on Piesse Street in Katanning, pulled a large machete from his pants and said he wanted to talk to her. When she refused, Smith threw the machete on the ground and ran away. Police later arrested him on Austral Terrace before releasing him that same day. At 4.24pm, Smith again saw his ex-partner, pulled a machete out of his pants and said he wanted to talk to her but ran away after seeing another person with her. Aboriginal Legal Service lawyer Raymond Muir said his client was carrying the machete for protection, having earlier been assaulted and chased, and on the second occasion the person accompanying his former partner had a pole. Mr Muir said Smith only wanted to talk to his ex-partner and did not intend to scare her. Mr Muir sought a conditional suspended imprisonment order for his client, acknowledging the offences were committed while on two community based orders. Sgt Walker sought immediate imprisonment, noting Smith’s 189 convictions, including carrying and concealing weapons, and domestic violence. Magistrate Erin O’Donnell said that while Smith expressed his regret in a handwritten letter to the court, in which he said he was “getting too old for this sort of thing”, the offending was “too serious” and had reached the point of imprisonment. The court sentenced Smith to 12 months imprisonment. If you or someone you know is experiencing family violence, phone 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) or the Crisis Care Helpline on 1800 199 008.