A man whose threats against Timaru Work and Income staff closed the office for a short time in October has been sentenced to 100 hours' community work.
Brodie Scott Miller (22), unemployed, who was living in Timaru at the time of the threats on October 23, was arrested the same day.
He was released on bail but did not turn up at court.
He was found in Invercargill and spent several days in custody before appearing before Judge Gary MacAskill in the Invercargill District Court on Tuesday, where he pleaded guilty to charges of threatening behaviour and breaching bail.
Police prosecutor Denise Harvey said Miller rang the Winz national call centre believing his benefit was being underpaid, and became agitated.
He threatened to ''take out the security staff at the Timaru branch'' and made reference to the double homicide at the Ashburton office in September, saying he thought the shooting was funny and it had made him laugh.
The police were called and the Timaru office was closed as a precaution until Miller was arrested about an hour later.
Duty solicitor John Fraser said Miller had been assessed and was considered fit to plead to the charges.
Miller was now living in Invercargill and had a job opportunity, he said.
