Drug affected man found guilty of taking a hostage at the Ibis Hotel

A 26-year-old Shepparton man has been sentenced to no more than 100 days behind bars after holding an Ibis hotel guest hostage.

William Jack Mazzonetto pleaded guilty to charges of being a prohibited person possessing an imitation firearm, false imprisonment and possessing a drug of dependence and will serve to a two-year community corrections order.

The Melbourne County Court heard Mazzonetto confronted a man with a silver handgun and forced him into a room in the King St hotel in May last year.

The accused also produced a syringe filled with methamphetamine while in the hotel room.

The judge said he had “no doubt” the attacker was drug affected during the incident as each time he looked to be falling asleep, the victim would try to escape only to be told to stay where he was.

It took an hour for the victim to break free.

Police arrested Mazzonetto in a friend’s room in the hotel. He served 98 days in jail before he was granted bail.

The judge pointed to Mazzonetto’s troubled childhood as a reason for the community order but said his prospects of rehabilitation were “problematic”.

“The risk of you reoffending if you use drugs is obviously going to be high,” he said.

“If you can stay in Shepparton perhaps and stay out of Melbourne and just wandering the streets, things might improve for everybody.”

Mazzonetto has been ordered to complete 100 hours of community service work.

Irit Jackson - 15th December 2021