ANIMAL abuser Jet Jai Johnson was taken straight from the courtroom and into custody on Wednesday, where he will serve at least six months in jail, for five counts of torturing, beating and causing prolonged suffering to an animal.
The Broken Hill Court heard a statement provided by RSPCA NSW’s chief veterinarian outlined the “severe torture and pain caused to each animal”.
A police prosecutor said Johnson’s offending by “essentially putting the motorbike over the top of the kangaroo” had to be considered at the top end of objective seriousness.
The court heard that Johnson, who pleaded guilty, had lost work and was reticent to show his face around town since footage of the abuse had been shared on social media.
Character references were submitted to the court on behalf of the accused, including a statement detailing the nature of his work.
“His line of work is detailed in particular, in the reference of Mr Blore,” the defence counsel said.
“He’s been exposed to all sorts of issues with animals.
“He was required to euthanise animals that would be confronting… there’s a degree of… speciesism, in that the offending isn’t against domesticated animals or animals that were in his domestic environment.”
The counsel submitted that his client’s depression, anxiety and youth should be considered as factors in sentencing.
“Ultimately, what I would say about the offending is there’s a real immaturity and lack of sophistication in it,” the counsel said.
However, Magistrate Jacqueline Trad said she’d come to the conclusion that the objective seriousness of the offences was so significant that it overwhelmed other factors such as his mental health impairment.
Ms Trad said she viewed the offending with such seriousness that nothing short of a custodial sentence would suffice.
“Jail is a sentence of last resort,” she said.
“No excuse, no reason and no circumstances in my view could adequately answer for these offences.”
The magistrate said the offences had impacted the community and community safety.
“There would have been people who saw these videos and experienced fear, distress and loathing for what you did,” she said.
“That is a consequence of what you did.”
Johnson was jailed for 14 months with a non-parole period of six months. He will be eligible for parole in January next year.
“It’s the only sentence in my view that would address the community concerns,” Magistrate Trad said.
