Mandurah: man who told bank teller he had a gun cops fine

A MAN who told a bank teller he had a gun claimed it was just a “figure of speech”.

Christian John Catalano pleaded guilty to creating a false belief when he appeared in Mandurah Magistrates Court today .

Police prosecutor Constable Sean Discombe said Catalano used a Westpac ATM on Pinjarra Road on May 18 at 11.45am and his bankcard was not returned.

Const Discombe said Catalano went inside Westpac and asked a teller to retrieve his card but they said he needed to show identification, which Catalano did not have.

Frustrated, Catalano told the teller he had a gun and balaclava. The teller informed the bank manager and called police.

Police found Catalano on Andrew Street, searched him and found he was not armed.

Catalano, who represented himself, told the court he had implied possessing a gun and balaclava as a “figure of speech”.

“I shouldn’t have done it,” he said.

Magistrate Bob Young said it was “silly” for Catalano to say such things.

“Police have better things to do than to go on a wild goose chase,” he said.

Magistrate Young fined Catalano $500.