Rockingham man Christopher John Holcombe jailed for almost three years for stabbing threats and car theft

A Rockingham man who was sentenced to two years and two months in jail after he threatened to stab a victim and then stole his car has been handed a further nine-month sentence for threatening to stab two more people. Christopher John Holcombe, 43, appeared in the Perth District Court on January 27 charged with threats of violence and stealing a motor vehicle. State prosecutor Thomas Ford said at 7.30am on May 18, 2021, Holcombe was at Rockingham City Shopping Centre when he approached the victim in an agitated state while he was sitting in his parked Holden Astra. Holcombe had his fists clenched and raised his arms in an erratic manner when he leant through the victim’s window and told him he was going to stab him. Mr Ford said the victim exited the vehicle in fear for his safety while Holcombe continued threatening to stab him and take his car. The victim attempted to prevent the offender from taking his vehicle, both physically and verbally, but the offender pushed him out of the way, got into the car and drove off. Police later recovered the vehicle from a different suburb. Holcombe was arrested on May 26 in relation to other matters. Lawyer Rosie Meyers said her client had been having a difficult time after the sudden death of his stepfather in 2020 and the breakdown of his relationship and as a result at the time of the offending was homeless, depressed, experiencing paranoid thoughts and using methylamphetamine. Ms Meyers said on the day of the offending, Holcombe saw the victim in the car, and as a result of his drug use and the paranoia, he believed that the victim was following him but claimed he did not have a knife with him. District Court Judge Laurence Mark Levy said he accepted Holcombe’s remorse but robbery was a serious offence and it was no surprise the victim feared for his life after the threats to stab him. Holcombe was sentenced to two years and two months in jail backdated to May 26 and was made eligible for parole. On January 28, Holcombe appeared in Rockingham Magistrates Court via video link from Hakea Prison and was sentenced to a further nine months in jail for threatening to stab another victim and his girlfriend with a kitchen knife at the same shopping centre in Rockingham on May 7.