Donald Charles Meynink gets suspended sentence for stalking ex-partner
A Queensland businessman who caused a former partner “anxiety and concern” while stalking the woman for months was found with an illegal cache of firearms.
An interstate businessman from the Western Downs who terrorised two former partners was given a suspended jail term after he pleaded guilty to committing a stalking offence a year after he was convicted of the same crime.
On Friday, September 26, Toowoomba District Court was told the manager of a farming enterprise, Donald Charles Meynink persistently harassed a Darling Downs woman following the breakdown of a 15-month relationship in 2023.
The former business owner of a Darling Downs cattle mustering business followed and watched the Toowoomba woman while she was at home, in establishments, and at a friend’s address.
The court was told Meynink, 49, stalked his former partner for almost four months, and on one occasion, he was caught shining a light through a friend’s window at 3am, after the woman had shared an Uber home earlier in the evening.
Over months, the Jandowae-raised man also sent a barrage of emails, calls, and text messages, however the nature and context of the contact was not put into the record.
During this time, police uncovered a number of illegal firearms at a property owned by Meynink at Boodua, 33km north of Toowoomba.
After pleading guilty to one charge of stalking, Crown prosecutor Abby Kong tabled an amended indictment document, which shortened the offending period from April 4 to July 16, rather than July 21.
Ms Kong said in relation to Meynink’s prior stalking conviction, he was fined $1500 after pleading guilty, however she did not have the details of the offending.
Ms Kong said Meynink’s recent stalking offence related to a number of incidents over a three-month and 12-day period.
“The impact … was significantly detrimental to her, caused a significant impact on her life and mental health, which is evident in the facts and her victim impact statement,” Ms Kong said.
Ms Kong said a jail term between 12 and 15 months was within range and did not push for additional time in custody to be served.
“I do accept it’s equally within range for your honour to wholly suspend it, in circumstances where he hasn’t committed any further offences since July 2023,” she said.
Judge Denis Lynch KC sentenced Meynink to a 15-month jail term, suspended for three years, after declaring four days as time served.
Judge Lynch told Meynink that if he wanted to avoid serving real jail time, he needed to stay out of trouble.
“It’s not acceptable to behave in the way that you did,” he said.
“Your conduct caused anxiety and concern beyond imagination for the complainant.
“(And) repeating your earlier conduct of stalking an earlier partner marks you as someone who needs to be personally deterred from doing something similar in the future.”
Mr Lynch said it must be acknowledged Meynink did not physically harm the woman, or make “overt threats” to harm her.
“Nevertheless, your conduct was persistent, and it continued despite the intervention of police,” he said.
“You’ve demonstrated that you are a risk to others in the community.
“I have considered whether further actual imprisonment is necessary, but come to the view that in light of the four days you’ve been in custody, as well as the other circumstances … that further actual imprisonment is not necessary.
“The necessary community protection (requirement) can be achieved by a lengthy (suspended) operational period.”
The court was told Meynink’s former partner could take comfort in the fact that he had now moved on and had a new partner.
According to the criminal code, the maximum penalty imposed for an aggravated offence of stalking is seven years’ imprisonment in Queensland.
Following his sentence, Meynink went before a Toowoomba magistrate and pleaded guilty to possessing four illegal firearms, three detachable magazines, and a variety of ammunition.
One of the firearms was picked up by police two months after police charged Meynink with possessing a Winchester semiautomatic rifle, a Hollis and Sons double-barrelled shotgun, and a Savage Sporter 32-20 rifle.
Solicitor Chelsea Saldumbide told the court Meynink had just been dealt with for a “related matter”, and that police prosecution would be discontinuing five charges.
When Meynink was arrested on the weapon charges, he spent three nights in a watch-house after he was granted bail in the Supreme Court, after a Toowoomba magistrate rejected the application.
The court was told Meynink lost horses in a fire in the Northern Territory because his bail restrictions prohibited interstate travel, however he successfully applied to have the travel restriction removed.
Meynink’s sentence for the firearm offences was adjourned to October 31.
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Originally published as Donald Charles Meynink gets suspended sentence for stalking ex-partner
