The criminals of the Upper Spencer Gulf who faced court in 2022
From drug dealing enterprises exposed to a “nightmare” stalker terrorising his ex, these are 18 of the region’s criminals punished in 2022.
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From terrifying home invasions to a jailhouse drug smuggling, these are some of the Upper Spencer Gulf offenders who faced court in 2022 and the consequences they faced.
Timothy Lydeamore
A man who bashed his friend’s neighbour and struck his victim’s dog with a hammer has been given a chance by the court to show he’s turned his life around.
Timothy Scott Lydeamore, 36, committed his bizarre home invasion under the false belief that his dog was in danger.
The Adelaide District Court in April heard Lydeamore was visiting a friend in Port Pirie on June 27, 2020.
The victim – who lived across the road from Lydeamore’s friend – awoke to hear yelling in the street.
Lydeamore entered the victim’s yard with his dog.
“Whilst the victim attempted to keep you out, you smashed panels on the door and managed to force entry into the house,” Judge Ian Press said during sentencing.
Once inside, Lydeamore pushed the victim, jumped on him and punched him.
“As this was occurring your dog and the victim’s dog were fighting. You then picked up a hammer and struck the victim’s dog,” Judge Press said.
“When the victim told you to stop you threatened to hit him with the hammer.”
The Port Pirie father pleaded guilty to trespassing and assault.
Judge Press sentenced Lydeamore to one year and five months jail, with a non-parole period of 11 months.
The sentence was suspended on a three-year good behaviour bond, with supervision for two years.
Stuart Campman
A man who punched his prison cellmate over stolen butter started using methamphetamine after his relationship went downhill.
Stuart William Campman, 35, was jailed for his “cowardly” attack, which left his victim requiring surgery.
The Adelaide District Court in April heard Campman and the victim were cellmates in Port Augusta Prison.
“After initially getting on together, the defendant became increasingly aggressive, regularly asking the victim to fight him,” Judge Paul Cuthbertson said during sentencing.
The victim began fearing for his safety and requested a change of cells on March 10 2020.
“While the victim was in his new cell the defendant entered and closed the door behind him,” Judge Cuthbertson said.
“He began arguing with the victim, claiming that the victim had taken his butter.”
Campman then punched the victim about 10 times, causing a right orbital face blowout fracture and a four centimetre laceration across the victim’s forehead.
The victim was hospitalised and required surgery on the eye socket fracture and stitches.
The Risdon Park father pleaded guilty to causing harm with intent.
Judge Cuthbertson sentenced Campman to one year and three months jail, with a non-parole period of 10 months.
“The present offence was a cowardly one, made worse by the fact that the victim was trapped and under detention and unable to keep away from the defendant,” he said.
The sentence was backdated to October 4.
Dylan Pedler
A father came close to missing the birth of his second child after feeling a “rush of blood” during a spontaneous assault and home invasion.
The District Court heard Dylan Pedler, 29, and two other men attended a Whyalla Playford property on April 5, 2020.
When the homeowner opened the door, Pedler said “why you causing s**t?”
Pedler then stepped inside the front door and started pushing the victim backwards before punching him.
“You then grabbed (the victim) by his shirt with both hands and shook him a few times,”
Judge Paul Slattery said during sentencing.
“You then said something to the effect ‘control your b***h, stop causing s**t’.”
The victim tried to usher Pedler out of the house but he jabbed him twice to his cheek.
Pedler, of Whyalla Norrie, pleaded guilty to assault and serious criminal trespass.
Judge Slattery sentenced Pedler to three years and seven months, with a non-parole period of 24 months.
The sentence was suspended on a $1000, three-year good behaviour bond, with supervision for two years.
Matthew Chudleigh
An armed arborist had no memory of breaking a man’s nose with the axe handle he was wielding.
Matthew Luke Chudleigh, 28, broke down the door of a stranger’s home and severely injured him during his vicious attack.
The Adelaide Magistrates Court in April heard Chudleigh was released on home detention bail on November 22, 2020 for multiple assault charges.
He chased a person down a Park Holme street the same day he was bailed and the person sought shelter at the victim’s house.
The next day Mr Chudleigh returned and attended the property where the person he chased had sought shelter.
He demanded to know where the victim was hiding the other man.
“You started bashing at the door, suddenly you broke through the door,” Magistrate Simon Smart said during sentencing.
The victim ran through the house and armed himself with an ornamental axe.
“You struck the complainant several times to his face and his body, you took up the axe handle and struck him with it,” Mr Smart said.
The victim suffered bruising and swelling to both eyes, lacerations and a broken nose.
The Whyalla father pleaded guilty to trespassing and assault causing harm.
Mr Smart sentenced Chudleigh to six months jail.
The sentence was suspended on a 12-month, $500 good behaviour bond, after Chudleigh served three months.
It was backdated to March 26.
Brodie Hutchison
A man has dodged jail for tackling his father to the ground and choking him, after hearing his land had been sold.
Brodie Hutchison, 37, tested positive for drugs after the brutal attack on his father, where he threatened to kill him.
The District Court heard Hutchison, who had been living with his father, was having a dispute with him about a shed and land in Port Pirie he was struggling to make repayments on.
“Your father eventually took over the mortgage repayments,” Judge Ian Press said during sentencing.
Hutchison became very angry when his father told him on March 2 2021 he had sold the land.
“You assaulted your father by tackling him to the ground and choking him with both hands for about 30 to 40 seconds,” Judge Press said.
“As he was gasping, you released your grip voluntarily and stood up.”
Hutchison’s father then went to bed and awoke to find him standing over him with a kitchen knife.
“You threatened to kill him if the property was sold,” Judge Press said.
Hutchison’s father’s neck was sore after the incident and he suffered bruising to his nose, neck and hip.
Hutchison, of Stirling North, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault.
Judge Press sentenced him to four months jail, suspended on a $100, 12-month good behaviour bond, with supervision.
Tianah Wilton
A cleaner did not stop to think of the consequences when she glassed her cousin in an impulsive act, leading to serious injuries, a court has heard.
Tianah Emma Kimberly Wilton, 34, failed to convince a jury she acted in self defence when the night out went horribly awry.
The District Court heard the victim was Wilton’s cousin, who she had been drinking with on September 13, 2019 in Copley.
The “very intoxicated” victim became abusive towards Wilton.
“You stood and leant across the table and swung or punched your arm into the side of her face,” Judge Ian Press said during sentencing.
The court heard the schooner glass Wilton had in her hand struck the victim.
“The glass connected with her eye and cheekbone and she began bleeding heavily,” Judge Press said.
The victim was flown to Adelaide for treatment.
She suffered a severe rupture of the left eye and has lost sight in that eye.
The Port Augusta mother was found guilty at trial of causing harm with intent to cause harm and acquitted of the more serious charge of recklessly causing serious harm.
Judge Press sentenced Wilton to two years and seven months’ jail, with a non-parole period of one year and four months.
The sentence was suspended on a $100, two-year good behaviour bond, with supervision.
David Werner
A father who bashed a homeowner with a hammer in a “cowardly” attack has had his life “ruined by drugs”, a court has heard.
David Bradley Werner, 27, was on drugs when he committed the violent home invasion to collect a debt that had nothing to do with him.
The Adelaide District Court heard Werner and his co-accused broke into Ben Graham’s Risdon Park South home on February 13, 2021 at 2am.
Mr Graham’s partner, Tenille Devlin was in the dining room when she saw the men walk through the front door.
“One of you told her to get on the ground and she lay on the ground face down,” Judge Joana Fuller said during sentencing.
Mr Graham, who heard Ms Devlin screaming, saw Werner’s co-offender come out of the house armed with a hammer.
A scuffle ensued between them.
“You then hit him over the head with the hammer three times while he was trying to restrain your co-offender,” Judge Fuller said.
The court heard Mr Graham managed to kick the hammer out of Werner’s hand.
Mr Graham was hospitalised and treated for a dislocated shoulder and multiple lacerations to his head, which required stitches.
Werner, of Elizabeth East, pleaded guilty to serious criminal trespass and causing harm with intent to cause harm.
Judge Fuller sentenced Werner to three years and nine months jail, with a non-parole period of one year and 11 months.
The sentence was backdated to October 25, 2021.
Maria Kapac
A Whyalla Woolworths manager dodged jail after they were busted selling drugs as a side hustle.
Maria Kate Kapac, 36, was given her “last opportunity” to rehabilitate from using meth to “numb the pain”.
The Port Augusta District Court heard police attended Kapac’s house on July 16, 2020 and found cash and a small amount of meth.
Kapac’s phone was seized and drug dealing messages were found.
Messages on July 7 and 10, 2020 showed Kapac sold one gram of meth for $450 and half a gram of meth for $250.
Kapac, of Whyalla Stuart, pleaded guilty to drug trafficking.
The court heard Kapac had worked at the local Woolworths for 15 years, with her LinkedIn profile listing her as night manager.
Judge Michael Durrant sentenced Kapac to two years and four months jail, with a non-parole period of one year and two months.
The sentence was suspended on a two-year, $100, good-behaviour bond, with supervision for 18 months.
Simon Caldwell and Renae O’Bryan
A father was locked up after the Whyalla drug dealing business he was the driving force behind was exposed by police.
Simon Andrew Caldwell, 47, turned to using methamphetamine as a coping mechanism and joined forces to sell the product with his former partner, Renae Elma O’Bryan.
The District Court heard police found over 7.39g of a substance, which contained 2g of pure methamphetamine, at Whyalla Norrie in October 2020.
Police analysed two phones and found messages consistent with O’Bryan and Caldwell selling methamphetamine for months.
The father-of-two pleaded guilty to two counts of drug trafficking.
O’Bryan, who pleaded guilty to drug trafficking, was sentenced last month to three years and five months jail, with a non-parole period of two years.
During O’Bryan’s sentencing, the court heard she took calls and packaged drugs for sale but was not the driving force behind the business.
Due to her rehabilitation efforts and minimal role in the offending, the sentence was suspended on a $100, two-year good behaviour bond.
The court heard Caldwell turned to using methamphetamine as a coping mechanism after he lost his job and his wife left him.
Judge Press sentenced Caldwell to three years and five months jail, with a non-parole period of one year and nine months.
Siegunn Hayes
A dealer who was taken in custody after being caught with meth on three occasions returned to trafficking straight after being released, a court heard.
Siegunn Hayes, 29, was selling drugs to fund his “raging addiction” but now wants to turn his life around after becoming a father.
The District Court heard police searched Hayes’ home address on October 31, 2020 and found 5.78g of methamphetamine of which 3.89g was pure.
They also found $2380, scales, an ice pipe, resealable bags and methamphetamine cutting agent in a bumbag.
Police re-attended at Hayes’ home on December 22, 2020 after receiving information that he was still trafficking methamphetamine.
In the kitchen police located 10.3g of methamphetamine, of which 6.76g was pure.
Police attended Hayes’ partner’s house later that same month to arrest him.
He fled upon seeing police but was apprehended in a neighbour’s property.
Police found four resealable bags of methamphetamine in a backpack in his partner’s house, as well as $700 on Hayes.
Hayes’ partner is not accused of any wrongdoing.
The court heard police returned to Hayes’ address in July 2021 to arrest him for returning positive drug tests while on home detention bail.
They found five plastic resealable bags containing 32g of mixed methamphetamine, scales, ice pipes, resealable bags and $460.
Hayes, of Whyalla Norrie, pleaded guilty to four counts of drug trafficking.
The court heard Hayes, who had worked as a cleaner and in the scaffolding industry, began using methamphetamine at 19 and instantly became addicted.
Judge Paul Muscat sentenced Hayes to seven years and seven months jail, with a non-parole period of six years and one month.
The sentence was backdated to March 20, 2021.
Lucas Tayler
A drug courier busted transporting 3kg of marijuana to a country town refused to dob in the other people involved, a court heard.
Lucas James Tayler, 22, made the “silly decision” to entangle himself in the enterprise in exchange for a small amount of free weed.
The District Court heard Tayler was travelling as a passenger in a car which was pulled over by police on the Port Augusta Highway on September 12, 2020.
They noticed a smell of marijuana coming from the car and searched it.
Inside a pink duffel bag police found seven bundles of marijuana, totalling over 3kg.
The court heard Tayler said he did not know precisely how much marijuana was in the bag but agreed to courier it from Adelaide to Port Augusta in exchange for half an ounce.
The marijuana was valued between $17,500 and $21,000 if sold in pound lots.
Tayler, of Port Augusta, pleaded guilty to commercial drug trafficking.
Judge Emily Telfer sentenced Tayler to one year and three months jail, with a non-parole period of nine months.
The sentence was suspended on a two-year good behaviour bond, with supervision for 12 months.
Tayler was also ordered to complete 80 hours of community service within one year.
Jessica Pyman
A country dealer who was selling meth as a side hustle was told by a judge he was sparing her jail as an opportunity to “get things right”.
Jessica Yvonne Pyman, 32, hopes to become drug free for her children after several years of addiction led her to street dealing.
The Port Augusta District Court heard police attended at a house on July 16, 2020 and found cash and a small amount of meth.
Pyman’s phone was seized and drug dealing messages were found.
“Those messages established that you had taken a step in the process of sale by seeking finance in the amount of $750 for an unpaid drug debt in order to reload further drugs and, secondly, in respect of the sale of a half ball of methamphetamine,” Judge Michael Durrant said during sentencing.
Pyman, of Whyalla Stuart, pleaded guilty to two counts of drug trafficking.
“You have been drug addicted for about five years, commencing with recreational use,” Judge Durrant said.
He sentenced Pyman to three years and four months jail, with a non-parole period of one year and eight months.
Due to Pyman’s family support and insight into her addiction, the sentence was suspended on a $100, two year good behaviour bond, with supervision for 18 months.
Adrian Haynes
A drug-dealing chef who fell into addiction was given another chance to prove he’s turned his life around.
Adrian Ronald Haynes, 48, was sweaty and anxious when police came knocking on the door only hours after finding drugs on him.
The District Court heard Haynes was found in a hotel room on January 23, 2021 providing assistance to another man.
“He was under the influence of drugs and it appeared that he was dealing drugs from that room,” Judge Michael Durrant said during sentencing.
Haynes was found with drugs and given a diversion notice and told to leave.
Police attended the Port Lincoln address of the man later that same morning and Haynes answered the door.
Police found two plastic resealable bags, with one containing 4.42g of methamphetamine and the second had 0.52g of methamphetamine.
Haynes pleaded guilty to intending to supply drugs to another person.
Judge Durrant sentenced Haynes to 10 months in jail.
Due to Haynes’ employment and rehabilitation efforts, it was suspended on a $100, 18-month good behaviour bond, with supervision for 12 months.
David Dodd
A carer called his partner a “retard” before bashing her with a metal pole and kicking her in a “disgraceful” attack, a court has heard.
David Paul Dodd, 52, should have been protecting the vulnerable woman but instead he left her with stitches and a bruised lip.
The District Court heard Dodd and the victim had been in a relationship for 11 years and he was the victim’s registered carer.
The court heard CCTV footage captured Dodd punching the victim to the mouth, causing her to bleed on June 18, 2021.
The next day the victim was in the lounge room drinking coffee.
“She says that you called her a ‘retard’ and she responded calling you a ‘woman basher’,” Judge Julie McIntyre said during sentencing.
Dodd left the room and returned with a metal pole.
“You raised the pole over your head and struck your victim to her head twice,” Judge McIntyre said.
Another man in the house took the pole away from Dodd but he also kicked the victim.
The court heard the victim suffered multiple injuries, including a 4cm wound on her head which required stitches and a bruised lip.
Dodd, of Risdon Park South, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm.
Judge McIntyre sentenced Dodd to three years and five months jail, with a non-parole period of one year and 10 months.
She ordered the sentence be served on home detention, with Dodd to also complete 100 hours of community service within 12 months.
Brodie Lemon
After his spurned actions forced his ex-girlfriend to install CCTV at their former home, a “nightmare” stalker repeatedly terrorised her before finally being locked behind bars.
Roof plumber Brodie Mark Lemon, 22, was dumped by his girlfriend of three years in May before he was cautioned against stalking the woman, who he became obsessed with and could not get over.
The Elizabeth Magistrates Court was told the warning did little to snap Lemon out of the alarming pattern of offending with him just 10 days later making 123 calls to her in a day.
That same day, the court heard, Lemon went to her Modbury house and tried to make contact with her.
Police prosecutor Jen Switala told the court the next day he again attended her house, knocking for two minutes – which was caught on CCTV installed by the ex to protect herself – before leaving.
Despite being locked up over his stalking, then released on police bail and being banned from contacting her, Lemon did not relent.
A day after his stint behind bars he again contacted the woman telling her he “just needed to see her”.
Without any success, and with his ex unblocking his number to tell him to “stop trying to hack into (her) email”, he “bombarded” her with “harassing” text messages.
Ms Switala told the court that bombardment started again 10 days later as Lemon’s offending continued into a 38th day.
He was arrested the following day and given home detention bail, but still Lemon continued.
Seventeen days later, with the ex having now dealt with the stalking for 55 days, Lemon sent her an extended message categorised by Magistrate Ben Sale as “long and apologetic … essentially saying goodbye”.
In total, Lemon pleaded guilty to aggravated stalking, breaching his bail and hindering police.
Magistrate Ben Sale described Lemon’s offending as “persistent”, “frightening”, having been “given no encouragement” and “a serious example of stalking”.
“This is, quite frankly, a young person’s nightmare – the ex-boyfriend who won’t go away and who is doing things that seem unhinged,” he said.
Lemon was convicted and sentenced to 41 days in prison, backdated to when he was arrested and jailed in August.
Toni Watson
A Whyalla mother who said she was held captive and drugged over a debt agreed to participate in brazen drug smuggling to pay a man back, a court heard.
Toni Cheryl Anne Watson, 30, made the foolish decision to meet demands after she was left traumatised from being detained in a northern suburbs house.
The District Court heard Watson, 30, was intercepted attempting to smuggle 21 Suboxone strips into Yatala Labour Prison on November 8, 2020.
Suboxone is commonly used for opioid addiction and people who are coming off heroin.
“The authorities were waiting for you because they had heard many lawfully recorded telephone conversations between you and a prisoner at Yatala during which you planned the offending,” Judge Timothy Heffernan said during sentencing.
During sentencing submissions in April, Scott Jelbert, for Watson, told the court she was threatened by a man who believed she owed him money for drugs.
Mr Jelbert said as a result of this Watson was held captive in a northern suburbs house and repeatedly drugged a couple of weeks before the offence.
“On one occasion she woke up and there were men on either side of her injecting more drugs into her arms,” he said.
The court heard Watson, who was traumatised by being held captive, agreed to smuggle the Suboxone in to pay the man back.
The Whyalla mother-of-four pleaded guilty to drug trafficking.
Judge Heffernan sentenced Watson to nine months and 15 days’ jail.
The sentence was suspended on a two-year good behaviour bond, with supervision.
Blake Gleeson
A father who sparked a police chase was found hiding in some shrub in a desperate bid to keep his commercial drug enterprise hidden.
Despite his lawyer’s best efforts, Blake Andrew Gleeson, 29, was jailed for his creative attempts to hide a significant amount of weed.
During sentencing, the District Court heard a police officer was conducting speed control duties between Pirie and Port Augusta on May 26, 2020.
Gleeson was driving a silver Commodore when he overtook the unmarked police car at 140km/h.
The police officer gave chase and Gleeson evaded him.
However, officers eventually found him hiding in some shrubs on a stranger’s property in Port Paterson.
They followed footprints to some bushes and trees where they found a bag of marijuana hidden.
The court heard the bag contained 4.43kg of marijuana in 10 separate vacuum-sealed packages and was valued between $20,000 to $25,000.
Police then went to Gleeson’s Port Pirie house and found a vacuum heat-sealing machine and a grow room.
The Solomontown father was found guilty at trial of large commercial drug trafficking, with a prosecutor saying he served up a “load of malarkey” to the jury.
Judge Paul Cuthbertson sentenced Gleeson to three years jail, with a non-parole period of 18 months.
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