Man apologises after allegedly suffering mental breakdown before Coles Express attack

A man accused of threatening a woman at a Coles Express earlier this month claimed he had suffered a breakdown on the night of the alleged incident, leaving him with no memory of events. Speaking from a Perth mental health facility, he said he had stopped taking essential prescription medication before the alleged incident. “If somebody is scared, I am sorry,” he said. On November 9, in Wonthella, the 32-year-old allegedly smashed the side of a woman’s car with an iron bar while her children sat inside the vehicle. Although initially left “shaken” by the incident, the alleged victim said she accepted the man’s apology, saying she was glad to hear he was getting help. Neither the alleged victim nor a key witness were contacted by police for more than a week, despite handing over their details promptly after the incident. The alleged attacker is the son of a decorated retired police officer, giving rise to community concerns the man’s connections influenced the investigation. WA Police and the accused denied all suggestions of nepotism. Police said: “The suggestion that this man has been treated favourably, or different to any other person in similar circumstances, is refuted. The investigation and conduct of officers has been reviewed by senior officers and deemed appropriate. “Operational priorities direct that it is not unusual that investigations take several weeks to complete, particularly when there is no immediate ongoing threat to the community.” The alleged attacker, who lives with bipolar disorder, said he was an adult who was responsible for his own decisions and he expected to face the full force of the law. He is calling on people suffering with mental health issues to “get help sooner”. “You feel like less of a man when you have this illness ... Don’t leave it to the last minute (to get help),” he said. The man is due to appear in court on December 3, facing charges of damaging property and reckless driving. Further charges could be laid.