Magistrate rejects 'ridiculous' machete defence

A supervisor of an asbestos company was today jailed after he admitted possession of a machete, claiming it was for work.

Ross Parsons, 41, appeared in court in June after he was arrested outside of Place’s Place Bar at 10:15pm on June 10 after a report of a man brandishing a machete.

At that hearing, the court heard when police searched him, they found the 16-inch machete tucked away in a sheet in his pants.

Parsons told the officers he had the machete for work. Asked what time he was making to work, Parsons said 7am.

He was then arrested for the offence of having a bladed article in public.

At the time, Parsons told the court he had the machete on him as he was going to take it to the offices of Chilla Inc, an asbestos removal company.

He said he was working on a job site at Morgan’s Point and needed the machete to clear away vegetation.

Parsons also said he wasn’t at Place’s, but was at the variety store VL, which is nearby.

Today, Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner said: “I reject your defense. It’s ridiculous and in any event, even though it was for work purposes and there’s evidence that you were carrying a bladed article for purposes other than work, it doesn’t matter if coincidentally, the machete is also for work purposes.

“In the circumstances, the appropriate sentence is three months imprisonment from June 19.”

Parsons will be released from jail shortly having spent time in custody since June 19.