An agitated man who found another man in his former partner's home and threatened to shoot him has been ordered to do community work.
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John Charles Potter, 47, of Albert Street, Port Fairy, pleaded guilty in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court to making a threat to kill.
He was convicted, placed on a 12-month community corrections order with the conditions he do 60 hours of community work and offender behaviour programs.
Magistrate Mark Stratmann warned Potter if there was a repeat of the offending the prospects of a jail term being imposed were high.
He said it was serious offending, the victims were very fearful and Potter had entered the home without consent.
Police said Potter on October 28 saw there was another vehicle in his ex-partner's driveway.
He tried to call her five times, pulled up and knocked on the door to try and identify who was inside.
When the woman opened the door, Potter barged in and went to the lounge room.
Potter told the other man he had to leave for about 30 seconds but the visitor refused.
Potter then said he had a shotgun in his car, he would go and get it and kill the man.
The victim became extremely fearful.
Potter also sent the woman a text message calling her a derogatory term.
Police went to Potter's home where they seized his three guns and also three of his father's firearms.
He also surrendered his gun licence.
A lawyer said Potter had run his own livestock transport business for 20 years although he had a colourful criminal history dating back many years.
He said his client had been very upset at the time of the offending because after a number of social outings he thought his marriage as about to resume.
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