A Dingee man accused of a series of violent attacks in Bridgewater last year will plead guilty to the majority of charges laid against him after discussions with the prosecution.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The committal of Allen Anderson, 47, concluded in the Bendigo Magistrates Court yesterday.
Anderson originally faced 30 charges but six were withdrawn and a rape charge was discharged by the magistrate due to insufficient evidence.
Anderson will now plead guilty to 14 charges and stand trial on the remaining nine.
The charges relate to two separate periods of offending but involve many of the same victims and witnesses, who were Anderson’s friends or acquaintances.
It is alleged Anderson tried to rape one of the men sometime between April 2006 and February 2007. Anderson has pleaded not guilty to that charge.
The same man is one of the victims of Anderson’s second period of alleged offending over a June weekend last year.
Anderson has pleaded guilty to damaging the man’s property to the value of $3440 but has denied charges of false imprisonment, robbery, theft and making threats to kill.
The complainant told the court he was subjected to four days of constant harassment and death threats by Anderson.
“I was fearing for my life so much, I was a prisoner in my own home,” he said
Anderson has admitted to assaulting his friend Grant Cooper and Inglewood publican Enzo Sacfati during this period, as well as assaulting long-time friend Dean Zimmer, stealing his driver’s licence and causing property damage totalling $11,900.
He will plead guilty to possessing and using cannabis, and admitted to thefts from a Bridgewater property and the Inglewood IGA.
But Anderson is pleading not guilty to allegations he tried to stab Mr Cooper with a screwdriver and threatened to kill him.
He will also contest a charge of robbing Graham Tennant, an acquaintance, while armed with a metal bar.
Leading Senior Constable Damon Saunders said Anderson’s violent and erratic behaviour over that period had led to Victoria Police’s Critical incident Response Team being called to Bridgewater.
Leading Senior Constable Saunders said Anderson was finally arrested on June 25 camping outside of the town.
“He said he hadn’t eaten or slept for a couple of days and he had smoked a few bongs before his arrest,” he said.
Anderson was remanded to the County Court for a directions hearing on February 19.