Charles Aaron Tilden sentenced for threatening police officer

Charles Aaron Tilden, 40, appeared at Wagga Local Court on Monday for sentencing.

The Mount Austin man pleaded guilty to a charge of stalking or intimidating, intending to cause fear of physical or mental harm, and refuse or fail to provide an oral fluid sample

About 7.40pm on October 4, police pulled Tilden over for a random breath test when he was driving in Ashmont with a passenger.

He tested negative for alcohol, but a drug test was positive for cannabis and meth.

Documents tendered to the court state that while waiting for another police car, Tilden became hostile and began to make numerous homophobic and offensive remarks to police.

He asked an officer if they wanted to check in his car for guns, and when he asked if he had any, replied "I don't in the car because if I did, I would have f--king shot you".

Tilden continued asking why the officer was looking at his tattoos.

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"I'll tell you bud, you don't know what these tattoos mean," Tilden said.

"You don't know who I am. You don't want to mate, because I'm telling you ... you'll go in the boot of a car and never be seen again."

At Wagga Police Station, Tilden was given a drug testing kit but kept pausing and chewing the pad so a sample could not be taken.

He threw the kit across the room and became aggressive, and police sent him back to the dock.

Tilden was asked about his drug use at the police station, and he said he smoked cannabis the night before.

His solicitor Aakash Prasad told the court his client was living alone but had family in Wagga, including three children.

"He only completed school up until year 8," he said.

"He lost his job due to COVID but is currently looking for work ... he has been a drug user since about three years ago."

Mr Prasad said Tilden had taken steps to address his behaviour and had also been seeking treatment for a mental health condition and his drug issues.

Magistrate Christopher Halburd said Tilden did not have a record that entitled him to any leniency in the matter.

"It seems sir, when you are on the drugs, you behave like a goose," he said.

Magistrate Halburd sentenced Tilden to an intensive corrections order for 11 months, with the condition he must abstain from taking alcohol or drugs.

He was also fined $1000 and disqualified from holding a driving for 12 months from July 5, 2021.

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