Sentenced: Armed Ex-Soldier Allegedly Storms Animal Shelter To Get Cat Back

[Sugar Cookie]

Tony Wittmann, 44, was allegedly so mad when workers at the Lost Dogs’ Home in Melbourne told him he needed to wait a day to pick up the pet, he’s accused of threatening a 23-year-old female worker with the gun in the facility’s parking lot, according to ABC Australia.

“Do as I say and listen to me, I won’t shoot you,” he allegedly told her, a court heard this week. “Don’t try anything or I’ll shoot you.”

Wittmann led the worker into the building with a firearm that looked like “something a SWAT team in the movies would use,” the unidentified worker said, according to the outlet.

He allegedly ordered the frightened gal to direct him toward the cats, then demanded that she get on her knees and tied her up with zip-ties.

“The accused said, ‘I’m going to close this door. If I see you, I’ll shoot you,'” Detective Senior Constable Jo MacDonald said in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

But Wittmann — who served in the Australian army before he was discharged for failing to render efficient service — ultimately left empty-handed.

He was charged with kidnapping, false imprisonment and armed robbery and denied bail.

Armed ex-soldier allegedly storms animal shelter to get cat back

Not exactly the purr-fect crime.

nypost.com

 

[Sue sue]

He really needed his puss.

 

[Craygor]

.... Wittmann — who served in the Australian army before he was discharged for failing to render efficient service ....

Dumbass got an Administrative Discharge, in other words, he was "Fired" for being a dumbass. This type of discharge is due to performance issues, conduct issues, or physical and mental conditions, but nothing that bad enough for misconduct charges.

 

[Alf]

I don't know about Australia, but here in the states an administrative separation is or at least was limited to one's first six months.

--Al

 

[MildlyMedicated]

Is the kitty kitty okay, is all I want to know!

 

[Sejanus]

He seems like a coward...and deeply divided mentally.
Someone may want to get his weapons away from him.
Re-home his cat too.
Fuck him!

 

[Brillig]

After all that, he didn't even leave with his cat?!? What a loser.

 

[Sevens My Charm]

Where's the damn cat?

“On this occasion, he’s acted to get back possession of a cat, which he was only going to be without for possibly 10 hours.”

The detective said while police were at the scene on Tuesday morning, Wittmann had come back to pick up his cat, which he described as a support cat for a friend with mental health issues.

“I need help,” he said, requesting if the application was refused that he be sent to a psychiatric facility instead of prison.

“I apologise for taking up your time today.”

Redirect Notice

 

[Sugar Cookie]

A former Army reservist, who was so desperate to get his cat back that he broke into a Melbourne animal shelter and held a young mother hostage with an imitation gun, has been jailed.

Tony Wittman, 45, was sentenced to six years' jail before the County Court today, having previously pleaded guilty to charges including false imprisonment and aggravated burglary.

Wittman stormed an animal shelter in Melbourne's south-east, Cranbourne West's The Lost Dogs Home, on January 11 last year while armed with a fake assault rifle and dressed in military gear.

He had called the shelter at 5.50pm and confirmed it had his lost cat, and had been told to pick it up at 10am the next day as the shelter was about to close.

Wittman scoped out the shelter hours before he broke in, driving to it about 8.30pm to take note of the placement of security cameras.

He returned to the shelter about 10.20pm and cut his way through a fence.

Wittman had already spent more than a year behind bars by the time of sentencing.

He will be eligible for parole in 2024.

Ex-Army reservist jailed for holding mum hostage at Melbourne animal shelter

www.9news.com.au