Zachary Johann Seales, 30, appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday and admitted charges of threatening to kill and resisting police.
The court heard that a person known to the defendant, whose name is suppressed, had been receiving ongoing treatment from Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand and the Health and Disability Commission (HDC).
On May 16, the defendant sent an email to the HDC stating: "either you are going to help [the patient] or I am going to start stabbing the health workers".
"Either [they] will receive treatment or I will be in prison."
On June 11 police arrived at Seales’ home.
He answered but when he was told he was under arrest he slammed the door and ran upstairs.
The door was later unlocked by another occupant in the house and Seales was arrested.
He told police he sent the emails because he was "frustrated".
Yesterday, Judge Emma Smith called the offending "nasty".
"That was a direct and an extreme threat to people who are just trying to help."
She noted the defendant had no previous convictions and sentenced him to 80 hours’ community work and ordered him to pay court costs of $143.
