Ex-Army reservist jailed for holding mum hostage at Melbourne animal shelter
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.
The Langwarrin father 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.
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Tony Wittmann has been jailed. Nine
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.
A female worker arriving at the shelter was then confronted by him pointing the fake gun at her.
The young mother pleaded with Wittman not to harm her as he repeatedly questioned her about where the cats were being kept.
Wittman demanded she get on the ground and put her hands behind her back before he tied cable ties around her wrists.
He then told her to count to 100 before she called for help and he then fled the scene.
The next morning Wittman returned to the shelter to collect his cat, where police were waiting to question him.
Tony Wittman leaving The Lost Dogs Home. Nine
He handed himself in to police hours later.
The court heard he made full admissions and said he was suffering from PTSD and needed his cat for support.
In sentencing, Judge Duncan Allen noted the ongoing trauma caused to the victim.
The court was told the victim's life would never be the same and that she still suffered anxiety and panic attacks from the incident.
Wittman had already spent more than a year behind bars by the time of sentencing.
He will be eligible for parole in 2024.
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