Mental health advocate Mike King is coming to a town near you

Police were called to an intersection in Woodside at around 6.20pm.

Sadism and schizophrenia have been put forward as two separate explanations for the brutal hammer attack on a sex worker at a Sydney hotel.

Matthew Sean Donaldson, 43, is facing sentencing after pleading guilty to one count of causing grievous bodily harm with an intent to murder a female sex worker after inviting her up to his hotel room on February 23, 2021.

The self-professed gaming enthusiast brought a hammer, knife and ball gag to the room, cut off the women's underwear and got into an argument about the moralities of people selling their bodies for sex before attacking her with the hammer.

READ MORE: Half a billion dollars' worth of cocaine found floating in ocean

After the incident, he caught the train from Town Hall to Penrith, and got into a taxi to Blaxland where he fled into the bush with a loaded gun hoping to end his own life. He was arrested two days later.

Donaldson, who sat emotionless wearing prison greens at Downing Centre District Court on Wednesday, had a history of perusing sadomasochistic pornography, including hentai, on the internet, Judge Antony Townsden heard.

A key issue at the sentence hearing is whether the Mount River man planned the attack due to sadistic fantasies or whether he was under paranoid delusions as a result of then-undiagnosed schizophrenia.

Consultant forensic psychiatrist Dr Adam Martin, who has been retained by crown prosecutors, told the court the level of planning shown by Donaldson made it unlikely the attack was based on his paranoid delusions.

Under cross-examination by defence barrister Sarah Talbert, Martin pointed out that Donaldson had brought a "torture kit" with him to the hotel room and had looked up both sadistic pornography and news articles about violent offending prior to the assault.

READ MORE: Dad breaks silence after toddler killed in hot car

"To me, that speaks much more like angry and premeditated sexually motivated offending than the scenario which I think you're proposing," he told the barrister.

He said it was unlikely that everything was fine before Donaldson snapped because of his paranoia, attacking her with a hammer he just happened to bring along to a visit with an escort.

"I mean I just don't buy it. It just doesn't seem plausible and most people wouldn't accept that," he said.

In consultations with defence psychiatrist Dr Andrew Ellis, Donaldson said he received communications from a "messenger" who talked to him through faces on rocks and spotlights in towers.

He also told others that he had a fear of surveillance devices and believed COVID-19 was a conspiracy, the court heard.

READ MORE: The 'inland tsunamis' putting 15 million people at risk

In explaining the attack, Donaldson claims he "freaked out" and feared for his life believing the escort would attack him before he bludgeoned her with the hammer.

Crown prosecutor Sara Gul said Donaldson, who has a likely diagnosis of autism and experiences symptoms of anxiety like profuse sweating, planned on ending his life within a certain timeframe.

"He wanted to have as much fun as he could before ending it when he ran out of money," she said.

Donaldson has asked the court to take into account two further offences of possessing a prohibited firearm and possessing two prohibited weapons, a baton and a ninja throwing star, when determining his sentence.

The hearing continues.

Lifeline 13 11 14

beyondblue 1300 22 4636

Sign up here to receive our daily newsletters and breaking news alerts, sent straight to your inbox.

The council has signed off plans for a $3.6m destination skatepark.

Millions of dollars of stock and machinery have been destroyed after a fire that engulfed a factory in Melbourne's southeast.

Employees arrived at work early this morning completely "devastated" to see the plastics manufacturing factory consumed by a toxic inferno.

About 33 firetrucks battled the intense blaze on Olive Grove in Keysborough about 5.10am, with Refresh Plastics General Manager Ian Cameron expressing his dismay.

READ MORE: Black Saturday arsonist may walk free on parole

"It's really shattering to arrive and be confronted by this," Cameron said.

"With all the challenges, you know, COVID, just when we've kind of got a clear run ahead of us in 2023 we've got another challenge we've got to face up to."

Hazardous fumes blanketed the area for hours, triggering a warning for residents living within two kilometres to stay indoors.

Nine News understands the company is insured.

Police have since declared the property a crime scene as the cause is investigated.

During the fire, emergency services blocked off Chandler Road in both directions and warned anyone within two kilometres of the fire "should take shelter indoors immediately".

The affected area included people in the suburbs of Keysborough, Dandenong and Dandenong South.

Residents were urged to close all doors and windows, turn off heating and cooling systems and close fireplaces and vents.

Sign up here to receive our daily newsletters and breaking news alerts, sent straight to your inbox.

Council officers will always be in uniform, carry ID and drive a council-branded vehicle.

Commuter says stressful and difficult commute affecting his performance at work.

Armed police seen outside currency firm.

Ex-boss is ‘proud’ of what former All Black has achieved, a ‘bit of pot’ is minor.

The puppy, named Knuckles, was found with multiple fractures by SPCA inspectors.