South West man called former casual partner 116 times in just five days but claims actions are ‘normal’

A South West man who harassed a former casual partner with 116 phone calls in just five days told police he thought his actions were “normal” despite the woman being scared. Matthew Tunney, 40, appeared in Manjimup Magistrates Court on Thursday via videolink from Bunbury Regional Prison with guilty pleas entered on five charges, including using a carriage service to menace and harass, pursuing another to intimidate and disorderly behaviour at a police station. The court was told Tunney had made 116 calls between June 30 and July 4 to a woman he had had a casual relationship with for a few weeks. The victim had asked Tunney to stop and blocked his number, reporting the matter to the police because she was “fearful”. However, Tunney said he thought his actions were “normal”. While in the police lock-up on July 4 on a discontinued matter, Tunney kicked the cell door several times and told officers to “take (their) badge off and f...... fight”. Tunney also pleaded guilty to trespassing on the Pemberton Mill on July 6, with the court told he was a former employee at the demolition site. He had been fired and told to not return, but at 9am he entered the site and abused staff at the main office. Magistrate Gavin MacLean said Tunney had spent 89 days in custody and fined him $300 for four of the charges. For the fifth — a driving with authority offence — Tunney was fined $100, which was suspended for three months.