A 55-YEAR-OLD Branxholme man has been warned he will be going to jail if found guilty after allegedly making threats to kill a local school principal.

Matthew Crowe was strongly urged to get a lawyer in the Hamilton Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday after stating he would plead not guilty to the charges.

Police Prosecutor leading senior constable, Greg Kew, told the court that at about 11.45 am on the morning of April 28, the accused walked into the local primary school grounds and proceeded to become angry and invade the personal space of the principal.

After Mr Crowe was asked to leave, he threatened to return with an AK-47 and “blow her away”.

The court heard the man was arrested a short time later and no firearm was located.

Ldg Sen Const Kew told the court that the accused had written a letter of apology but could not be delivered because of an intervention order against him.

Magistrate Gerard Lethbridge told Mr Crowe if he contested the charges and lost, he would most certainly go to jail.

“You can’t go around making threats to school principals due to your political beliefs and conspiracy theories,” he said.

The matter has been adjourned for a half-day contested hearing on February 19, 2024 in the Warrnambool Magistrates’ Court.