BRISBANE TIMES (Australia) 25 November 10 Angry tenant throws snake at landlord (Amelia Bentley)

A Brisbane man has faced court for throwing a dead snake at his landlord during an argument.

Brett Anthony Gregory, 42, pleaded guilty this morning to common assault after he threw a two-foot black-coloured snake at his landlord at a unit complex in Greenslopes, in Brisbane's inner south, in February this year.

Crown prosecutor Chris Minnery said the male landlord had moments earlier handed another resident, a friend of Mr Gregory's, a breach notice for having snakes in his unit.

He said Gregory walked up to the landlord and said: "You wanna play tough? I'll show you tough" before throwing the reptile on the man's chest.

The snake was dead and its species was unknown, he said.

Defence barrister John Fraser said his client's landlord "no doubt got a bit of a fright when the snake landed on him."

"I'm sure he would have," said Judge Kerry O'Brien.

Judge O'Brien sentenced Gregory to three months jail but wholly suspended the sentence.

He took into account Gregory's timely plea and evidence that he was getting psychiatric help.
Angry tenant throws snake at landlord

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• AUS Press: Angry tenant throws snake - W von Papineäu, Tue Nov 30 07:31:43 2010